In the wake of recent supply chain disrupting cyberattacks, a senior U.S. Justice Department official told Reuters exclusively that the DOJ is elevating investigations of ransomware attacks to a similar priority as terrorism
Internal guidance sent on Thursday to U.S. attorney's offices across the country said information about ransomware investigations in the field should be centrally coordinated with a recently created task force in Washington.
Colonial Pipeline decided to pay the hackers who invaded their systems nearly $5 million to regain access, the company said. The Justice Department's decision to push ransomware into this special process illustrates how the issue is being prioritized, U.S. officials said.A person fills a fuel container at a Shell gas station, after a cyberattack crippled the biggest fuel pipeline in the country, run by Colonial Pipeline, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 15, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo"We've used this model around terrorism before but never with ransomware," said Carlin.
According to the guidance, the list of investigations that now require central notification include cases involving: counter anti-virus services, illicit online forums or marketplaces, cryptocurrency exchanges, bulletproof hosting services, botnets and online money laundering services.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Justice Department to treat ransomware attacks with similar priority as terrorismThe Department of Justice is planning to coordinate its ransomware attack investigations with similar protocols it uses for terrorism cases, according to internal guidance sent to U.S. attorney’s offices reviewed by Reuters.Why it matters: The new guidance comes in the wake of at least two significant ransomware attacks against major U.S. businesses in roughly a month and as the Biden administration attempts to devise ways to thwart future attacks.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios M
Read more »
Analysis: These are just the disruptive criminal hack attacks we know aboutRansomware hacks are everywhere if you look for them. These are just the ones we know about. | Analysis by zbyronwolf
Read more »
JBS workers returning as White House blames Russia over hackJBS SA (JBSS3.SA) employees were returning to U.S. meat plants on Wednesday, a day after the company's beef operations stopped following a ransomware attack.
Read more »
U.S. says ransomware attack on meatpacker JBS likely from RussiaBrazil's JBS SA (JBSS3.SA) told the U.S. government that a ransomware attack on the company that disrupted meat production in North America and Australia originated from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, the White House said on Tuesday.
Read more »
Martha's Vineyard ferry disrupted by ransomware attackA ransomware attack has disrupted ferry services in Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Read more »
Biden Admin Warns Businesses of Increased Cybersecurity ThreatThe White House advised American firms to be vigilant in the wake of recent hacks on a major U.S. gas pipeline and beef producer.
Read more »