New policy detailing appropriate ransomware response efforts among governments is reportedly being finalized by the Biden administration in a bid to advance collective action in curbing ransomware payments, Reuters reports.
The White House will also be introducing efforts to strengthen ransomware intelligence sharing between countries at the upcoming International Counter Ransomware Initiative meeting to hone in on threat operations and accounts used for ransomware proceeds, according to a senior administration official close to the matter.
"We're committing to sharing bad wallets wallets that are used to move illicit ransom funds as well as a number of other related projects," said the official.
Fifty countries around the world have already joined ICRI, which also includes the European Union and the Interpol as its members.
"We have to work to ensure that all the digital connectivity we rely on for our citizens is secure," the official added.
US reportedly finalizing ransomware response policy
New policy detailing appropriate ransomware response efforts among governments is reportedly being finalized by the Biden administration in a bid to advance collective action in curbing ransomware payments, Reuters reports.
At least 117 countries were targeted by ransomware intrusions last year, up from 105 in 2022, with Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, and India having the highest growth in ransomware incidence, while recently disrupted LockBit and ALPHV/BlackCat operations were the most active of the 66 ransomware gangs that launched attacks last year.
Aside from IP addresses and social media details, more than 1,800 plaintext passwords belonging to staffers have also proliferated across the dark web, findings from a joint Proton and Constella Intelligence report showed.