The United States Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program has announced a substantial bounty of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of individuals involved in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure.
The reward specifically targets those acting under foreign government direction who violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), with particular focus on Maxim Alexandrovich Rudometov, the developer behind the notorious RedLine information stealer malware.
Ukrainian Developer Behind Global Cyber Threat
Maxim Alexandrovich Rudometov (Максим Александрович Рудомётов), born in 1999 in Ukraine’s Luhansk region, stands accused of developing and distributing the RedLine malware, one of the world’s most prevalent information-stealing programs.
Operating under multiple online aliases including “dendimirror,” “alinchok,” “ghackihg,” “makc1901,” “navi_ghacking,” and “bloodzz.fenix,” Rudometov has established himself as a key figure in the global cybercrime ecosystem.
The 26-year-old developer fled to Krasnodar, Russia, in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. authorities indicate that Rudometov maintains active control over RedLine’s technical infrastructure and possesses cryptocurrency accounts used for receiving and laundering payments from malware operations.
His continued involvement in managing the malware’s backend systems demonstrates the ongoing threat posed by his criminal enterprise.
RedLine functions as an advanced infostealer designed to extract sensitive data from compromised systems, including usernames, passwords, financial information, system configurations, browser cookies, and cryptocurrency wallet credentials.
The malware harvests this stolen data, collectively referred to as “logs,” which are subsequently sold on dark web cybercrime forums for fraudulent activities and additional cyberattacks.
The malware operates through a sophisticated Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) business model, allowing cybercriminals to purchase licenses and launch independent infection campaigns.
This decentralized approach has enabled RedLine to infect millions of computers worldwide, making it one of the most successful malware variants in circulation.
$10M Reward for Info on RedLine Malware
U.S. authorities are actively seeking information about Rudometov’s associates, particularly those with connections to foreign governments involved in malicious cyber activities.
The investigation also extends to tracking the use of RedLine malware by foreign governments for state-sponsored cyberattacks against American interests.
Individuals with relevant information can securely contact the Rewards for Justice program through their Tor-based reporting channel at he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion, which requires the Tor browser for anonymous access.
This encrypted communication method ensures the safety and confidentiality of potential informants.
The substantial $10 million reward reflects the serious threat posed by RedLine malware and the U.S. government’s commitment to disrupting cybercriminal operations that target American critical infrastructure.
As cyber threats continue evolving, this case represents a significant step in international efforts to hold cybercriminals accountable for their actions against critical systems and civilian targets.
Speed up and enrich threat investigations with Threat Intelligence Lookup! -> 50 trial search requests
Source: cybersecuritynews.com
