The LockBit ransomware group has announced that it successfully breached the US Federal Reserve, claiming to have exfiltrated 33 terabytes of sensitive data, including Americans’ banking secrets. They have threatened to release this data on June 25, 2024. While the group has not yet published any samples of the stolen data, the claim has raised alarms given the Federal Reserve’s critical role in the US financial system. However, many experts are skeptical, viewing the announcement as possibly a bid for attention rather than a confirmed breach.
In response to this threat, the FBI has stepped up efforts to combat LockBit’s impact, having recently obtained over 7,000 decryption keys from the group. The FBI is urging victims to come forward to recover their encrypted data for free. This development underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive cybersecurity measures, as well as the value of collaboration between organizations and law enforcement to mitigate and respond to cyber threats effectively.