USD 10 Million Reward for Information Leading to Arrest of Mikhail Matveyev, Says U.S. State Department

The U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that could lead to the arrest of Russian national Mikhail Matveyev, who is suspected of cyber extortion in the United States. This was reported by РИА Новости.

Matveyev has already been charged, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions against him.

The State Department's statement clarifies that Matveyev is accused of participating in cyber extortion efforts against U.S. law enforcement agencies, private companies, and critical infrastructure around the world.

Additionally, Washington has accused Russia of harboring cybercriminals, as the country has become a “safe haven” for them. The Secretary of State believes that hackers can operate with impunity against the U.S. and its partners.

It was also noted that in October, the Russian hacking group Killnet destroyed the official websites of several U.S. states, including Alaska, Idaho, Alabama, Hawaii, Delaware, Indiana, Connecticut, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Florida.