US, UK, Australia announce sanctions against Russia-based Media Land over ransomware operations

(Reuters) -The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom announced coordinated sanctions on Wednesday against Russia-based bulletproof hosting service provider Media Land for its role in supporting ransomware operations.

U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also designated three members of the Russian company’s leadership team and three of its sister companies, the Department of Treasury said in a statement.

“These so-called bulletproof hosting service providers like Media Land provide cybercriminals essential services to aid them in attacking businesses in the United States and in allied countries,” said John Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto;)