The group ALPHV (BlackCat) called for the creation of a cartel of ransomware workers
Representatives of the ALPHV (BlackCat) ransom community called for the creation of a cartel that could counter threats from Western security forces . The opinion was voiced on the XSS platform during a discussion about the group’s latest problems with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Before the ALPHV representative appeared in the thread, the LockBit account was leading the thread. In particular, he stated that he was aware that the FBI was actively working in relation to BlackCat .
“I once wrote about ALPHV, that they are karachun. An FBI informant told me this, but I didn’t think that they would want to sit on their servers and graze them for so long while issuing decryptors and collecting information about advertisers. They don’t [involve] me in all their plans. They just whisper useful information in my ear for money. Let me take this opportunity to remind you that I pay a million dollars to anyone who tells me my name, including any FBI agent who is leading my development,” wrote a LockBit representative.
The first message in the discussion on behalf of ALPHV was rather philosophical in nature . The user urged colleagues in the craft to remember that they “have a great responsibility.” At the same time, when you come into contact with different people for work reasons, it is worth remembering that “people can be evil,” and therefore “they can deal a big blow to your entire world and to your work.” He also thanked his competitors from LockBit for their support.
“Today the FBI took him, tomorrow they will take me, this can happen to anyone in our difficult case,” user LockBitSupp stated in response. “We must stick together so that we are not extinguished individually.” The FBI is not catching us alone, but is teaming up with all the intelligence agencies in the world. We must do the same,” the LockBit member expressed confidence in response.
His ALPHV interlocutor agreed with this sentiment, noting that “ we all have to unite in a cartel , otherwise, they will hunt us down individually.”
The discussion flared up against the background of the struggle between ALPHV and the FBI for one of the group’s onion domains . According to representatives of the group, it was an old blog, seized by security forces after moving to a new domain. After this, the ransomware workers regained control over the resource , however, according to researchers from vx-underground , they lost it again. After which, the cycle repeated. Vx-underground claims that the site changed hands at least four times but ultimately remained in the hands of the security forces.
Also, vx-underground analysts contacted LockBit. In correspondence, a representative of the group called the events surrounding ALPHV a “failure” and also admitted that the FBI “poses a threat” and LockBit.
In response to a question about why he believes that the group will not suffer the same fate that befell REvil, Conti, Hive, DarkSide and other major players, the LockBit representative philosophically noted that it could fall, as all these groups have fallen. But, in his opinion, “it’s not scary to fall, it’s scary not to get up.”
