In July 2023, Maksim Silnikau, a 38-year-old Belarusian also known as Maksym Silnikov, was arrested in Estepona, Spain. The arrest was part of a coordinated operation involving the Guardia Civil, the UK's National Crime Agency, and US authorities. Silnikau, along with his associates, is accused of creating and distributing notorious ransomware like Reveton and Ransom Cartel, as well as exploit kits such as Angler, which have extorted millions globally.

Silnikau's criminal activities trace back to 2011 when he introduced Reveton, the first ransomware-as-a-service model. This service allowed low-skilled criminals to launch ransomware attacks by paying a fee. Reveton scams, which locked victims' computers and accused them of illegal activities, extorted around $400,000 monthly between 2012 and 2014.

Silnikau's network also developed the Angler Exploit Kit, used in "malvertising" campaigns where malicious ads on legitimate websites infected victims' devices. This led to stolen banking credentials and sensitive data, with some victims paying ransoms to avoid having their information exposed. At its peak, Angler accounted for 40% of all exploit kit infections, targeting around 100,000 devices and generating an estimated $34 million annually.

Paul Foster, deputy director of the National Cyber Crime Unit, highlighted the significant financial and emotional damage caused by these scams, noting that Silnikau's innovations in cybercrime made it easier for others to commit such crimes.