Garmin is being asked to pay a $10 million ransom after a cyberattack paralyzed its systems and apps.The navigation company was hit by a ransomware attack on Thursday with customers unable to log in to their apps and record their fitness sessions for five straight days – pilots who use their apps have also been affected.It’s believed Russian cybercriminal group Evil Corp, which has been operating since 2009, is behind attack.In December 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Evil Corp after causing more than $100 million in financial damages in U.S. banking system.
Playboy Russian hacker holds Garmin to ransom
The malware has been linked to a Russian cybercriminal group known as Evil Corp. In December 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Evil Corp after causing more than $100 million in financial damages in the American banking system. As a result, if Garmin wanted to pay the ransom, it could potentially be found to be breaking United States sanctions.
Evil Corp is a Russia-based cybercriminal organization, headed by Maksim Yakubets, which is believed to be responsible for the ransomware attack against Garmin.
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Yakubets is alleged to have run the operation since May 2009 from the basements of Moscow cafes.
#WastedLocker #Ransomware extension .garminwasted!
— GrujaRS (@GrujaRS) July 25, 2020
Sample https://t.co/HxiBmrUtJk pic.twitter.com/RNGRJNiUwv
He is said to have employed dozens of people to steal money from victims in 43 countries using computer viruses that are designed to target only victims outside Russia.
The ‘malware’ is downloaded when a victim clicks on an email attachment and remains hidden on their computer to harvest their personal and financial data such as online banking details – which is subsequently used to drain their accounts.
Operating online under the name Aqua, the hacker and his associates are accused of stealing at least $100million.
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US treasury officials also say Yakubets has provided ‘direct assistance to the Russian government’ by acquiring confidential documents for the FSB security agency. He was also said to be part of a scheme in which Russian intelligence agencies recruit criminals to hack national security targets.
Yakubets, a Russian national originally from Ukraine, is still at large, as is his administrator Igor Turashev, 38.
In December, 15 people associated with the hacking group were sanctioned by the US treasury. Many are believed to be living in Moscow.
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Maksim Yakubets speaks with a police officer. Yakubets drives a customized Lamborghini Huracan supercar with a personalized number plate that translates to the word ‘Thief’ 
Maksim Viktorovich Yakubets, 33, is believed to be the head of Russian hacking group Evil Corp and responsible for the attack on Garmin’s systems. The FBI has a $5 million reward for information that leads to his capture 
Yakubets was married at a golf club north of Moscow in summer 2017 to glamorous businesswoman Alyona Benderskaya who runs a chain of Italian luxury clothing stores 
Maksim Yakubets’ wedding in 2017 to Alyona Benderskaya whose father-in-law works for FSB 
A tweet shows the email address that Garmin workers were told to email in order to restore access to their data
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