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 …