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The
in-person meeting follows last year's virtual inaugural meeting
of the informal Counter-Ransomware Initiative, adding seven more
countries and bringing in a diverse group of private sector
players for the first time.
The White House hopes the meeting will allow participating
countries to "institute a set of cyber norms that are recognized
across the globe to counter criminal ransomware threats and hold
malicious actors accountable," the official said.
Participants plan to issue a joint statement at the end of the
meeting on Tuesday, including a pledge to redouble efforts to
bring pressure on Russia and other countries that harbor
ransomware attackers, the official said.
One key topic for discussion will be how to disrupt such
attacks, counter the illicit movement of cryptocurrencies and
build resilience against such attacks, the official said.
"So less about Russia, more about how we as a set of countries
make it harder, costlier, riskier for ransom actors to operate,"
the official said.
Ransomware attacks have increased sharply in recent years, with
over 4,000 attacks reported outside the United States over the
last 18 months alone, the official said, adding that there had
also been progress in arresting attackers.
Ransom software works by encrypting victims' data, with hackers
offering the victim a key in return for cryptocurrency payments
that can run as high as millions of dollars.
Top administration officials, including FBI Director Chris Wray,
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, White House national
security adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy Secretary of State
Wendy Sherman will address the meeting.
Countries participating in addition to the United States
include: Australia, Austria, Belgium Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,
Croatia, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Estonia,
European Commission, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel,
Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Nigeria, Norway Poland, South Korea, Romania,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine,
United Arab Emirates and Britain.
Russia, Belarus and other countries believed to harbor attackers
will not participate.
Companies participating include Crowdstrike, Mandiant, Cyber
Threat Alliance, Microsoft, Cybersecurity Coalition, Palo Alto,
Flexxon, SAP, Institute for Security + Technology, Siemens,
Internet 2.0, Tata – TCS, and Telefonica, the White House said.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
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