US Probes Whether Negotiator Took Slice of Hacker Payments

Law enforcement officials are investigating a former employee of DigitalMint, a company that negotiates with hackers and facilitates cryptocurrency payments during ransomware attacks. The investigation is being led by the US Justice Department and is examining allegations that the employee profited from extortion payments by striking deals with hackers. DigitalMint's President, Marc Jason Grens, informed organizations the company works with about the investigation. The employee's actions are characterized as isolated and they were immediately terminated. DigitalMint is cooperating with the criminal investigation into the employee's alleged unauthorized conduct. The company is not the target of the investigation. Grens did not identify the employee by name, citing the ongoing probe. The investigation is ongoing, and Grens cannot provide more information at this time. DigitalMint is a Chicago-based company that facilitates cryptocurrency payments during ransomware attacks. The company's cooperation with the investigation suggests that it is taking the allegations seriously. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for the company and the cybersecurity industry as a whole.