French police arrest Russian basketball player accused of ransomware: report

A Russian basketball player has been taken into custody by French officials amid accusations of his involvement with a ransomware group, according to reports from Agence France-Presse. Daniil Kasatkin, who plays for MBA Moscow in the VTB United League, was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on June 21. Kasatkin, who previously spent time with Penn State during the 2018-2019 season, is reportedly under investigation by U.S. authorities, who suspect that he has been operating as a hacker in conjunction with a ransomware organization. His lawyer, Frederic Belot, firmly asserts his client's innocence, claiming that Kasatkin purchased a used computer and had no malicious intent. Belot expressed his disbelief over the situation, stating, "He did absolutely nothing wrong. He’s shocked. He’s useless with computers. He can’t even install an app. He didn’t touch anything on this computer. It was either hacked, or sold to him by a hacker who wanted to pass himself off as someone else." The circumstances surrounding Kasatkin's arrest raise questions about the intersection of sports and cybercrime, drawing attention to the ongoing battle against ransomware activities worldwide.