Russian cyberpunk Mikhail Matveev, likewise understood on the net as “Wazawaka” and also “Boriselcin,” is actually really wanted due to the FBI, which is actually giving a $10 thousand perks for info that could possibly cause his apprehension, and also has actually been actually placed on a U.S. penalties listing. Yet, depending on to Matveev, his lifestyle hasn’t modified considerably due to the fact that he was actually outed as a claimed cybercriminal and also apply the FBI’s a lot of really wanted listing.
“Our team are actually Russian folks, our team are actually certainly not frightened of the United States authorities,” Matveev informed TechCrunch in an internet meeting. “My lifestyle has actually modified right after the assents, I don’t experience all of them on me, and also assents are actually a plus for my safety and security, thus assents aid our team.”
In a job interview where he addressed both in English and also in Russian, Matveev pointed out that being actually allowed methods Russia will certainly certainly not expel him. And also to stay clear of receiving captured beyond Russia, he won’t journey any longer, and also mentioned he has actually “gotten rid of” his ticket. His final excursion, he pointed out, was actually to Thailand in 2014, where he consumed scorpion, which he pointed out was actually “scrumptious.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. authorities charged Matveev of taking part in “a worldwide ransomware project” versus preys around the globe. District attorneys profess Matveev is actually “a respected ransomware associate,” that partnered with the Colony, LockBit, and also Babuk ransomware groups to accomplish “substantial assaults” versus organizations and also essential facilities in the U.S. and also somewhere else, consisting of health centers and also authorities firms. Particularly, the feds pointed out Matveev “supposedly purposefully afflicted” the pcs of Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Cops Team along with ransomware.
Matveev, having said that, mentioned he really isn’t associated along with any kind of ransomware team and also he simply “leased their software program for my personal functions.” Because the reprehension and also penalties, he pointed out, he has actually poked fun regarding the actions taken versus him along with folks still associated with ransomware functions.
“Our team in some cases toss memes at one another,” he pointed out.
He mentioned he was actually making use of the ransomware to each examination it in a regulated setting and also to release it in the real world cases.
“I have actually certainly never been actually the writer of the Colony and also Lockbit venture, I was actually simply an associated individual individual — through on my own, my personal professional,” Matveev pointed out, incorporating that he is actually certainly not considering ransomware any longer.
Since he was actually arraigned and also allowed, Matveev has actually always kept a prolific life on X, previously Twitter, offered meetings to cybersecurity magazines, and also trolled the U.S. authorities through imprinting a Tees including his personal FBI very most really wanted signboard and also inquiring his fans if they’d like to buy similar merch.
An unnamed FBI representative pointed out the bureau refused to comment.
We verified that Matveev was really the person behind the X account by asking him for selfies. Matveev provided a selfie showing his left hand, which has only four fingers, per Matveev’s FBI’s most wanted page, as well as a selfie holding a piece of paper that had this reporter’s name handwritten on it. Matveev said he lost his finger in 2017 when he was installing a server cabinet that weighed 35 kg (around 77 lbs), which forced him to get surgery.
The alleged hacker declined to say how much money he has made with his ransomware work, and said he now invests in crypto, and recommended everyone do the same. Matveev said he is also working on a website about cybersecurity. He declined to say how much money he’s made with his ransomware activities, but denied that the income the FBI is attributing to him and his accomplices — $200 million in ransomware payments — is real.
Matveev added that he is not interested in ransomware anymore. But asked if he misses hacking, he said “very much :(” and he also said he may go back to hacking “but no one will know about it.”
Do you have more information about any ransomware gang? Our team’d love to hear from you. You can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase, and also Wire @lorenzofb, or email lorenzo@techcrunch.com. You can likewise talk to TechCrunch by means of SecureDrop.
