Reportedly Seized: Blackcat Ransomware Site Faces Action, UK Agency Denies Responsibility

The Blackcat hacking gang, which has been associated with a recent breach at UnitedHealth Group, posted a message on its website claiming that it has been seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action.

The notice posted by the Blackcat hacking gang, claiming to be seized, featured logos of non-American agencies like Europol and Britain’s National Crime Agency. This implied international involvement in the supposed law enforcement action.

The situation surrounding the Blackcat hacking gang and the alleged seizure of its website by law enforcement remains uncertain. The denial by the National Crime Agency, suspicions of an “exit scam” by security experts, and previous inconsistencies in the gang’s claims contribute to the complexity of the situation. Additionally, forum posts accusing the gang of cheating someone out of a ransom share and UnitedHealth’s silence on ransom payment further complicate the understanding of events. The lack of confirmation on whether a ransom was paid and the broader impact on UnitedHealth’s systems add to the challenges in assessing the validity of claims made by hacking groups.

The situation has become more complex with previous erratic behavior from Blackcat, including a deleted claim of stealing records from UnitedHealth and allegations of cheating someone out of a ransom share. Experts consider the possibility of an “exit scam,” where hackers feign a takedown to deceive authorities while resurfacing under a new identity.

The National Crime Agency explicitly denied any involvement in the seizure, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Blackcat hacking gang’s claim. This raises questions about the accuracy of the information provided by the hacking group and introduces uncertainty regarding the circumstances surrounding their alleged takedown.

Security experts, such as researcher Will Thomas, have raised suspicions about the legitimacy of the Blackcat hacking gang’s claim, suggesting it could be a potential “exit scam.” In this scenario, hackers feign a takedown to deceive authorities and subsequently resurface under a new identity, which adds a layer of uncertainty to the situation.

The actions of Blackcat, including the claim of stealing sensitive records from UnitedHealth and subsequently deleting the claim without clarification, contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the group’s motives and the accuracy of the information provided. This underscores the challenges in assessing the credibility of statements made by hacking groups in the realm of cybersecurity.

The situation involving the Blackcat hacking gang has taken a complicated turn, with allegations on a forum suggesting that the gang cheated an individual out of their portion of a reported $22 million ransom supposedly paid by UnitedHealth. This new layer of complexity raises questions about the legitimacy and motives of the hacking group, adding further uncertainty to the entire scenario surrounding the breach at UnitedHealth Group.

UnitedHealth has not officially commented on whether it paid a ransom in response to the reported cyberattack.The lack of confirmation regarding the reported ransom payment and the overall impact on UnitedHealth’s systems contributes to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the cyberattack attributed to the Blackcat hacking gang. 

The evolving landscape of cybersecurity poses significant challenges in verifying claims made by hacking groups. The complexities involved in responding to cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks, highlight the need for robust cybersecurity measures and effective collaboration between law enforcement agencies and organizations to address and prevent such threats.