US Offers $10 Million to Anyone Who Can Identify a DarkSide Ransomware Operative

Know something about the DarkSide ransomware gang? You could net between $5 million and $10 million if you can help authorities identify one or more of its members, the US government has announced.

The DarkSide ransomware gang, accused of the Colonial Pipeline attack, is up to its neck in trouble and now has quite a bounty on its head.

The US government is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any key member of the DarkSide operation, and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of anyone else tied to the gang.

“The U.S. Department of State announces a reward offer of up to $10,000,000 for information leading to the identification or location of any individual(s) who hold(s) a key leadership position in the DarkSide ransomware variant transnational organized crime group.” reads the press release. “In addition, the Department is also offering a reward offer of up to $5,000,000 for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of any individual conspiring to participate in or attempting to participate in a DarkSide variant ransomware incident.”

The State Department accuses DarkSide of carrying out the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attacks in May 2021, which led to the shut down of a 5,500-mile pipeline that carries almost half of the fuel used on the East Coast of the United States.

“In offering this reward, the United States demonstrates its commitment to protecting ransomware victims around the world from exploitation by cyber criminals,” the announcement says.

DarkSide is thought to have since morphed into the newer BlackMatter ransomware operation, which itself closed shop recently due to pressure from local authorities.

Federal agencies have implicated BlackMatter in several high-profile ransomware attacks. The threat actors have notoriously demanded ransom payments of up to $15 million in Bitcoin and Monero.