Washington: Three-quarters of all ransomware programs reported to a U.S. financial crime agency in the second half of 2021 used payment-seeking software from Russian hackers, according to a Treasury Department analysis published Tuesday.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.Credit:AP
In an analysis released in response to the increase in the number and severity of ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure in the United States since late 2020, the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said it had received 1,489 ransomware-related files worth. of nearly $1.2 billion ($1.8). billion) in 2021, a jump of 188 percent from the previous year.
Of the 793 ransomware incidents reported to FinCEN in the second half of 2021, 75 percent “had a connection with Russia”his proxies or persons acting on his behalf,” the report said.
Washington is hosting a meeting this week with officials from 36 countries and the European Union, as well as 13 global companies to address the growing threat of ransomware and other cybercrime, including the illicit use of cryptocurrencies.
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“We may be able to approach the challenge of ransomware through a different lens – and in some cases a completely different set of tools – but we’re all here because we know that ransomware remains a critical threat to victims around the world and profitable for bad actors ‘, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told officials.
Ransom software works by encrypting victims’ data, with hackers offering victims a key in exchange for cryptocurrency payments that can amount to millions of dollars.
A U.S. Treasury official said on Tuesday that the ministry fended off cyberattacks by a pro-Russian hacker group last month, preventing disruption, an example he said of the Department’s stronger approach to cybersecurity on financial systems.
Reuters