A Russian hacker, reportedly linked to the theft of $2.9 billion from European companies, has been arrested in Japan. He is considered one of the founders of the Qilin group, known for large-scale ransomware attacks. The 28-year-old, identified as Vladimir K., was apprehended in Osaka.

German investigators believe the hacker developed malicious software and provided hacking tools in exchange for a share of ransom payments. He was known online as "Zmey." The Qilin group is suspected of attacking a logistics company in North Rhine-Westphalia for $165,000 in bitcoin and impacting Synnovis, a UK health service contractor, causing disruptions in medical procedures.