Russian bulletproof hosting service Zservers sanctioned by US for LockBit coordination therecord.media/zservers-…

A Russian service used to facilitate ransomware attacks by LockBit hackers has been sanctioned by U.S. authorities.

The company, Zservers, offers bulletproof hosting — which allows cybercriminals to avoid law enforcement while renting IP addresses, servers and domains used for disseminating malware, forming botnet armies and carrying out other tasks related to fraud and cyberattacks.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department partnered with officials in Australia and the U.K. in sanctioning Zservers as well as Russian nationals Alexander Igorevich Mishin and Aleksandr Sergeyevich Bolshakov, who served as administrators at the company.

According to the U.S., LockBit affiliates frequently leased IP addresses from Zservers. The company is based in Barnaul, Russia, and advertises its services on cybercriminal forums. Blockchain analysis company Elliptic said it confirmed the link between the cybercrime gang and Zservers.