Former ransomware negotiator pleads guilty to helping cybercriminal gang

A former ransomware negotiator has pleaded guilty to helping cybercriminals extort companies while ostensibly working for their victims. Angelo Martino, who previously worked for cybersecurity firm DigitalMint, admitted to playing both sides of negotiations in five separate incidents. While hired to help victims respond to ransomware attacks, Martino fed confidential information back to the operators of the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang. His goal was to maximize the criminals' payouts so he could take a cut, according to prosecutors. Martino pleaded guilty to extortion and faces up to 20 years in prison. "Angelo Martino's clients trusted him to respond to ransomware threats and help thwart and remedy them on behalf of victims," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. "Instead, he betrayed them and began launching ransomware attacks himself by assisting cyber criminals." Martino is the third ransomware negotiator in the past year to face jail for similar schemes involving the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware-as-a-service operation. Authorities said they have already seized assets from Martino. He also admitted to helping two other former cybersecurity professionals deploy ALPHV/BlackCat's ransomware against several U.S. victims. DigitalMint said in a statement that it had no knowledge of Martino's criminal actions and fired him after learning of the accusations. The company said it also terminated another employee implicated in similar activities. ALPHV/BlackCat, also known as BlackCat, saw its dark web leak site seized by an international coalition of law enforcement authorities. At that time, authorities released a decryption tool to help victims restore their systems.