A North Canton real estate company and a Cleveland area school district were among the victims of a Russian national who was sentenced Wednesday to five years and four months in prison for his involvement in developing and deploying malicious software known as Trickbot.
It was used to launch cyberattacks against American hospitals and other businesses.
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According to court documents and media reports, Vladimir Dunaev, 40, of Amur Oblast, Russia, provided specialized services and technical abilities to further the Trickbot scheme.
Trickbot, which was taken down in 2022, was a suite of malware tools designed to steal money and facilitate the installation of ransomware.
Hospitals, schools and businesses were among the millions of Trickbot victims who suffered tens of millions of dollars in losses.
“This sentencing demonstrates the department’s ability to place cybercriminals behind bars, no matter where they are located,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in a news release. “In cooperation with our partners around the world, we will continue to bring cybercriminals to justice.”