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Ladybbird · 08-06-21, 06:53

US DoJ Reclaims Millions Paid to Hackers After Attack That Hobbled US Pipeline

Operation to recover cryptocurrency from Russia-based hacking group is first undertaken by new ransomware taskforce

The Guardian UK 8 JUN 2021

The Colonial Pipeline hack caused widespread fuel shortages across the United States east coast. AP: Robert Willet/The News & Observer)

The US Justice Department has recovered the majority of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday.

The operation to recover the cryptocurrency from the Russia-based hacker group is the first undertaken by a specialized ransomware taskforce created by the Biden administration, and reflects what US officials say is an increasingly aggressive approach to deal with a ransomware threat that in the last month has targeted critical industries around the world.

“By going after an entire ecosystem that fuels ransomware and digital currency, we will continue to use all of our tools and all of our resources to increase the costs and the consequences of ransomware attacks and other cyber-enabled attacks,” deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco said Monday at a news conference announcing the operation.

The Colonial Pipeline hack is part of a growing ransomware trend in the US

Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, which supplies roughly half the fuel consumed on the US east coast, temporarily shut down its operations on 7 May after a gang of criminal hackers known as DarkSide broke into its computer system.

Colonial officials have said they took their pipeline system offline before the attack could spread to its operating system, and decided to pay a roughly $4.4m ransom in hopes of bringing computers back online as soon as it could.

The 63.7 bitcoin ransom – a favored currency of hackers because of the perception that it is more difficult to trace – is currently valued at $2.3m.

“The extortionists will never see this money,” said Stephanie Hinds, the acting US attorney for the northern district of California, where the seizure warrant was filed.

The FBI generally discourages the payment of ransom, fearing it could encourage additional hacks, a stance reiterated by White House press secretary Jen Psaki last Friday during the daily media briefing.

On that day, FBI director Christopher Wray warned that tackling cyber hacks and ransomware attacks on US government and commercial entities would be akin to battling the international terrorist threat to the US following the hijacking attacks masterminded by al-Qaida on 9/11.

Joe Biden plans to bring the issue up with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the two leaders’ scheduled meeting in Switzerland later this month, with the Biden administration emphasizing that even if the Russian government is not behind these attacks, countries harboring cyber crime gangs must be responsible for dealing with them.

Monaco said the takeaway for the private sector is that if companies come quickly to law enforcement, officials may be able to conduct similar seizures in the future.

Soon after the cyber-attack on Colonial Pipeline, another attack took meat-processing factories across the US offline.

Attacks generally consist of a group of cybercriminals hacking into a company, or, for example, a local or state government’s, network, and scramble the data. The hacker then demands payment in exchange for handing back control of the system.

In the Colonial Pipeline case, Darkside took responsibility for the attack.

“DarkSide is a ransomware-as-a-service network – that means developers who sell or lease ransomware to use in attacks, in return for a fee or share in the proceeds,” said Monaco.

“DarkSide and its affiliates have digitally stalked US companies for the better part of the year, and indiscriminately attacked victims that include key players in our nation’s critical infrastructure. Today, we turned the tables on DarkSide.

Asked at the press conference on Monday if the latest developments means other companies should also pay ransoms, Monaco said no.

“We cannot guarantee – and we may not be able to do this in every instance.”

08-06-21, 06:53	#1
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,628 Thanks: 27,642 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	US Reclaims Millions Paid to Russian HACKERS After Attack US DoJ Reclaims Millions Paid to Hackers After Attack That Hobbled US Pipeline Operation to recover cryptocurrency from Russia-based hacking group is first undertaken by new ransomware taskforce The Guardian UK 8 JUN 2021 The Colonial Pipeline hack caused widespread fuel shortages across the United States east coast. AP: Robert Willet/The News & Observer) The US Justice Department has recovered the majority of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday. The operation to recover the cryptocurrency from the Russia-based hacker group is the first undertaken by a specialized ransomware taskforce created by the Biden administration, and reflects what US officials say is an increasingly aggressive approach to deal with a ransomware threat that in the last month has targeted critical industries around the world. “By going after an entire ecosystem that fuels ransomware and digital currency, we will continue to use all of our tools and all of our resources to increase the costs and the consequences of ransomware attacks and other cyber-enabled attacks,” deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco said Monday at a news conference announcing the operation. The Colonial Pipeline hack is part of a growing ransomware trend in the US Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, which supplies roughly half the fuel consumed on the US east coast, temporarily shut down its operations on 7 May after a gang of criminal hackers known as DarkSide broke into its computer system. Colonial officials have said they took their pipeline system offline before the attack could spread to its operating system, and decided to pay a roughly $4.4m ransom in hopes of bringing computers back online as soon as it could. The 63.7 bitcoin ransom – a favored currency of hackers because of the perception that it is more difficult to trace – is currently valued at $2.3m. “The extortionists will never see this money,” said Stephanie Hinds, the acting US attorney for the northern district of California, where the seizure warrant was filed. The FBI generally discourages the payment of ransom, fearing it could encourage additional hacks, a stance reiterated by White House press secretary Jen Psaki last Friday during the daily media briefing. On that day, FBI director Christopher Wray warned that tackling cyber hacks and ransomware attacks on US government and commercial entities would be akin to battling the international terrorist threat to the US following the hijacking attacks masterminded by al-Qaida on 9/11. Joe Biden plans to bring the issue up with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the two leaders’ scheduled meeting in Switzerland later this month, with the Biden administration emphasizing that even if the Russian government is not behind these attacks, countries harboring cyber crime gangs must be responsible for dealing with them. Monaco said the takeaway for the private sector is that if companies come quickly to law enforcement, officials may be able to conduct similar seizures in the future. Soon after the cyber-attack on Colonial Pipeline, another attack took meat-processing factories across the US offline. Attacks generally consist of a group of cybercriminals hacking into a company, or, for example, a local or state government’s, network, and scramble the data. The hacker then demands payment in exchange for handing back control of the system. In the Colonial Pipeline case, Darkside took responsibility for the attack. “DarkSide is a ransomware-as-a-service network – that means developers who sell or lease ransomware to use in attacks, in return for a fee or share in the proceeds,” said Monaco. “DarkSide and its affiliates have digitally stalked US companies for the better part of the year, and indiscriminately attacked victims that include key players in our nation’s critical infrastructure. Today, we turned the tables on DarkSide. Asked at the press conference on Monday if the latest developments means other companies should also pay ransoms, Monaco said no. “We cannot guarantee – and we may not be able to do this in every instance.” __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

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