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Time Is Money

Aug 13, 2024 • 5 min read

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FBI Takes Down Ransomware Gang
New $20B Data Center In Arizona

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FBI Takes Down Ransomware Gang:

The FBI recently executed a coordinated international operation to dismantle the Radar/Dispossessor ransomware group. This group, notorious for its sophisticated cyber tactics and ruthless methods, was neutralized on August 12, 2024, with the FBI seizing the gang's servers and domains across the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, effectively crippling their ability to conduct further attacks.
The Radar/Dispossessor group was infamous for breaching the security systems of their victims, stealing sensitive data, and encrypting files, rendering them inaccessible. They then demanded ransom payments in exchange for decryption keys, a practice commonly known as ransomware. Additionally, they employed a double extortion technique, threatening to release the stolen data publicly if the ransom was not paid, thereby increasing the pressure on victims to comply. The group targeted over 43 companies across various sectors, including healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing.
They exploited vulnerabilities such as weak passwords and the lack of multi-factor authentication to gain access to systems. Once inside, they not only encrypted files but also directly contacted victims, often through email or phone, to increase the pressure by threatening to publicly release the stolen data. The operation, led by the FBI’s Cleveland, Ohio field office, was the culmination of extensive planning and international collaboration. Law enforcement agencies seized three servers in the U.S., three in the UK, and 18 in Germany, along with eight U.S.-based domains and one German-based domain that the gang used to operate their criminal enterprise.

New $20B Data Center In Arizona:

A $20 billion data center campus is set to rise in Buckeye, Arizona, following unanimous approval from the Buckeye City Council. The campus will cater to both hyperscale and wholesale data center operators, with dozens of buildings planned for the site. The Buckeye City Council’s decision on August 6, 2024, included a development agreement that allows Tract to be reimbursed up to $50 million in public infrastructure costs, provided the project generates at least $60 million in revenue for the city.
To support this development, Buckeye also approved an amendment to its city plan, establishing the Buckeye Tech Corridor. This new corridor is intended to anchor the data center complex and serve as a major economic driver for the region. Tract, as the master developer, has committed to investing at least $100 million to secure the necessary infrastructure, including water, power, and transportation, to attract leading data center operators to Buckeye.
The project is expected to unfold in multiple phases over the next 15 years, creating around 2,000 construction jobs and an estimated 500 full-time positions upon completion. A data center is a specialized facility that houses a large number of computer servers and related equipment used to store, process, and manage vast amounts of digital data. These centers are essential for supporting the infrastructure of the internet, cloud computing, and various digital services.
They provide the physical space, power, cooling, and security needed to keep these critical systems running 24/7. Data centers are used by companies, government agencies, and other organizations to host their digital operations, ensuring that everything from websites to complex applications can function efficiently and securely. In the case of the Buckeye project, the data center campus will likely support a range of industries by offering advanced computing power and data management capabilities on a massive scale.

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