Police have targeted key criminals in global ransomware operations which paralysed large corporations and infrastructure in 71 countries.
The operation focused on 12 “high-value” cybercriminals in Ukraine and Switzerland behind a range of ransomware, including LockerGoga, which severely damaged one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, Norsk Hydro.
The 12 were said to be behind attacks that left 1,800 victims in 71 countries, and are under investigation in a number of different jurisdictions, said the EU law enforcement agency Europol.
LockerGoga is also believed to have been used in an attack on French engineering consultancy Altran Technologies in January 2019.
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that locks computers until the victim pays a fee to the criminals. It remains enduringly popular for criminals, with companies continuing to pay to retrieve critical data.
Law enforcement officials have said that an increasing trend is to combine locking up computers with threats to release market-sensitive data online.
The police operation was launched in the early hours of October 26, and $52,000 in cash and five luxury vehicles were seized.
The 12 had different roles in “professional, highly organised” criminal organisations, said Europol.
The roles included plotting the attacks, carrying them out, penetrating companies’ computer networks and laundering the Bitcoin ransom payments.
Some of the attacks would have happened months before a ransom was demanded, said Europol.
The operation involved investigators from across the EU, the UK and the US, it added.
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
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Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
UAE%20ILT20
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