Oakville man charged after three-year ransomware investigation

An Oakville man is facing charges following a three-year investigation into illegal online activities related to the deployment of ransomware, affecting victims nationwide.

Dubbed “Project Archie,” the investigation, initiated in 2020 by the Ontario Provincial Police Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) , uncovered an Ontario resident offering ransomware as a service, following information provided by the American FBI.

In October, the OPP Cybercrime Investigations Team executed a search warrant at a residence in Bradford, seizing electronic devices. Subsequently, detailed forensic analysis was conducted on the seized evidence.

On Dec. 14, investigators arrested and charged Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, of Oakville, with three counts of extortion, three counts of unauthorized use of a computer and failure to comply with a release order.

The accused, who had previous firearms charges, has been remanded into custody and is set to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia on Dec. 19.