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In
the interview published https://on.wsj.com/3wVXApX on Friday,
Wray singled out Russia as harboring many of the known users of
ransomware.
Each of the 100 different malicious software variants are
responsible for multiple ransomware attacks in the United
States, Wray told the newspaper.
The Kremlin on Friday said the FBI director's remark that Russia
was a haven for hackers was "emotional", RIA reported.
Wray's remarks come days after a cyberattack disrupted much of
meatpacker JBS SA's North American and Australian operations.
The White House linked the attack to a Russia-based group.
Last month, the biggest U.S. gasoline pipeline Colonial
Pipeline, was hit by a ransomware cyberattack, which crippled
fuel delivery for several days in the U.S. Southeast. The FBI
attributed the cyberattack to a group believed to be based in
Russia or Eastern Europe.
The U.S. Department of Justice is elevating investigations of
ransomware attacks to a similar priority as terrorism, a senior
department official told Reuters on Thursday.
Ransom software works by encrypting victims' data; typically
hackers will offer the victim a key in return for cryptocurrency
payments that can run into the hundreds of thousands or even
millions of dollars.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru;
Editing by David Goodman and Janen Merriman)
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