Yanluowang Ransomware & Access Broker Target U.S. Firms: Volkov Convicted
Between July 2021 and November 2022, multiple U.S. businesses—including an engineering firm and a bank—were targeted by the Yanluowang ransomware group, using access broker Aleksei Olegovich Volkov to gain initial entry. Volkov, operating as “chubaka.kor,” exploited vulnerabilities in victim networks, facilitated data theft and encryption, and coordinated ransom payments, some of which totaled $1.5 million. Victims suffered operational disruption, including temporary shutdowns and extortion attempts such as DDoS attacks and executive harassment. Forensic analysis linked the activities to Volkov via cryptocurrency tracing and communication evidence; $24 million in ransoms was demanded in total. This case highlights growing cooperation among cybercriminals, where access brokers sell or share footholds with ransomware operators, fueling larger-scale, multi-faceted cyber-extortion campaigns. The high-profile prosecution also sets precedent for international arrests and restitution, amid increasingly aggressive ransomware trends and evolving attack tactics.
Kill Chain
