Daniel Christian Hulea, 30, of Jucu de Mijloc, Cluj, Romania, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the NetWalker ransomware conspiracy. Hulea pleaded guilty to multiple charges, admitting to using a sophisticated form of ransomware known as NetWalker to target hundreds of global victims, particularly in the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court ordered Hulea to forfeit $21.5 million in ransom proceeds and pay nearly $15 million in restitution.
The NetWalker ransomware attacks specifically took advantage of the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, extorting hospitals and municipalities by targeting their systems when they were most vulnerable. This systemic attack underscores the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures and a collective international response to combat the dangers posed by sophisticated cybercriminals operating outside traditional legal jurisdictions.
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