The
International Counter Ransomware Initiative comes as the number
of ransomware attacks grows worldwide. The United States is by
far the worst hit, with 46% of such attacks, Anne Neuberger,
U.S. deputy national security adviser in the Biden
administration for cyber and emerging technologies, told
reporters on a virtual briefing.
"As long as there is money flowing to ransomware criminals, this
is a problem that will continue to grow," she said.
In ransomware attacks, hackers encrypt an organization's systems
and demand ransom payments in exchange for unlocking them. Often
they also steal sensitive data and use it to extort victims and
leak it online if the payments are not made.
While hundreds of companies fall victim every year, high-profile
U.S. attacks occurred in the last two months at casino operator
MGM Resorts International and cleaning products maker Clorox.
Both companies have not yet fully recovered from the
disruptions.
The new initiatives by the alliance aim to eliminate the
criminals' funding through better information sharing about
ransom payment accounts, Neuberger said. Two information-sharing
platforms will be created, one by Lithuania and another jointly
by Israel and the UAE.
Reuters reported details of this initiative on Monday.
Partner countries will share a "black list" through the U.S.
Department of Treasury that will include information on digital
wallets being used to move ransomware payments, Neuberger said.
She added that the effort will use artificial intelligence to
analyze blockchain with a view to identifying illicit funds.
The volume of crypto payments to ransomware attackers is on
track for its second-biggest annual total on record, blockchain
analytics firm Chainalysis said in July.
(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia
Osterman)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|