The U.S. Department of Justice has dismantled an international ransomware network responsible for extorting and attempting to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from victims in the U.S. and around the world. The Hive ransomware ring has extorted hundreds of millions of dollars from more than 1,500 victims in hospitals, schools, financial companies, and critical infrastructure in more than 80 countries around the world.

The FBI uncovered clues to the plot through an online chat room conversation on the Dark Web, where the young man, born in Battaglia, said he wanted to commit a terrorist act in Portugal. The Portuguese police were then notified.