Global law-enforcement authorities including the FBI have disrupted the activities of the formidable LockBit ransomware gang, taking control of its platform and seizing data associated with its global ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation.

Information obtained by the operation — called Operation Cronos — includes source code, details of ransomware victims, stolen data, decryption keys, and the amount of money extorted by LockBit and affiliates, according to a message from authorities appearing to an affiliate logged onto the LockBit control panel. The news first broke Feb. 19 when a screenshot of that message was posted on the X (formerly Twitter) account of Vx-Underground, an online repository for malware source code, samples, and papers.