BLUF

The U.S. government have developed a website for the victims of ransomware attacks to find resources and get assistance. Additionally, they are offering a $10 million reward for identifying cybercriminals.

Summary

This article about how the USA deals with Ransomware makes the following points:

 

Launched by the Justice and Homeland Security departments, www.StopRansomware.gov is a website consolidating ransomware resources across federal government agencies.

The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program have offered a $10 million reward to anyone providing information to track down cybercriminals including those backed by foreign governments.

The US State Dept has also set up a dark web channel to protect informants’ identities. 

The website and the offer of a reward are a government response to the ransomware attack earlier this year against the Colonial Pipeline Co., that led to widespread fuel shortages across the East Coast of the United States.

In 2020, companies paid $350 million to cybercriminals, a 300% increase from the previous year.

References

Jun 2021 Clyde and Co Ransomware payment reporting framework – Will this make Australia a less attractive target for ‘big game’ hunter cyber criminals?

Jun 2021 The Verge Ransomware funds more ransomware, so how do we stop it?

Jul 2021 We Live Security Ransomware: To pay or not to pay? Legal or illegal? These are the questions …

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