Canadian ransomware negotiator arrested as FBI cracks down on ShinyHunters

A Canadian ransomware negotiator has been arrested and faces unspecified extortion charges, according to court documents, prison records and a person familiar with the matter. Edward Dubrovsky is charged with conspiracy to "threaten to impair the confidentiality of information with intent to extort money" and "interference with commerce". The charges were filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which covers Philadelphia.

The court records are partially sealed and spell his surname in conflicting ways. They also do not give his age, profession or employer. A person briefed on the matter said the individual is Canadian cyber security executive Edward Dubrovsky. His LinkedIn profile lists a company called CyberSteward, which advertises services in "threat actor engagement, cyber-extortions, complex negotiations, and settlement facilitation". Federal prosecutors did not respond to questions about the discrepancies, and attempts to reach Dubrovsky, his attorneys and the company were unsuccessful.

The arrest comes as the FBI leads a global crackdown on the hacking group ShinyHunters, which last month claimed to have stolen information on nearly every FBI employee. The FBI referred questions to a statement from Director Kash Patel, which said the bureau had arrested a "suspected co-conspirator of the ShinyHunters group". It declined further comment. The charges are allegations, and the source does not detail what role, if any, Dubrovsky played.