Payment-seeking software made by Russian hackers was used in three-quarters of all ransomware plots reported to the US financial crime agency in the second half of 2021, a Treasury Department analysis shows. Tuesday’s announcement showed. In the analysis released in response to the increase in the number and severity of ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure in the United States since late 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network US government (FinCEN) said it received 1,489 ransomware-related records worth nearly $1.2 billion (approximately Rs 9,930) in 2021, an increase of 188% year-on-year.
Out of 793 ransomware Of incidents reported to FinCEN in the second half of 2021, 75% “have links to Russia, its authorized entities or those acting on its behalf,” the report said.
Washington this week will hold a meeting with officials from 36 countries and European Unionas well as 13 global companies to tackle the growing threat of ransomware and other cybercrime, including illicit use electronic money.
“We may approach the ransomware challenge with a different lens – and in some cases, a completely different set of tools – but we’re all here because we know that ransomware is still a threat. significant threat to victims globally and continues to be lucrative for the bad guys,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told officials.
The ransomware works by encrypting the victim’s data, with the hacker providing the victim with a key in return for cryptocurrency payments that can run into the millions of dollars.
A US Treasury official on Tuesday said the department last month repelled cyber attacks by a pro-Russian hacker group, preventing disruption, an example he said of the aggressive approach. department for cybersecurity of the financial system.
© Thomson Reuters 2022
