Suspected Ransomware Payments for First Half of 2021 Total $590 Million

Ransomware attack on UnitedHealth

Banks and other financial institutions in the U.S. reported transactions worth nearly $600 million suspected of being ransomware payments in the first half of this year, surpassing the total for all of 2020, according to a new Treasury Department report published Friday. Officials say the data, based on so-called suspicious activity reports that financial firms… Continue reading Suspected Ransomware Payments for First Half of 2021 Total $590 Million

Crypto Channels Targeted in Biden’s Fight Against Ransomware

crypto currency

The Biden administration plans a fresh campaign against ransomware attacks through sanctions to cut off criminals’ cryptocurrency pipelines, and it urged companies to report extortion attempts and better protect themselves from them. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told reporters that the sanctions would be imposed on Suex, a cryptocurrency transferring service that’s registered in the… Continue reading Crypto Channels Targeted in Biden’s Fight Against Ransomware

U.S. to Target Crypto Ransomware Payments with Sanctions

Ransomware attack on UnitedHealth

The Biden administration is preparing an array of actions, including sanctions, to make it harder for hackers to use digital currency to profit from ransomware attacks, according to people familiar with the matter. The government hopes to choke off access to a form of payment that has supported a booming criminal industry and a rising… Continue reading U.S. to Target Crypto Ransomware Payments with Sanctions

Ransomware Gang REvil’s Websites Become Unreachable

Ransomware attack on UnitedHealth

Websites run by the ransomware gang REvil suddenly became unreachable on Tuesday, sparking widespread speculation that the group had been knocked offline. The Russia-linked cybercrime ring has collected tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments in return for restoring computer systems it has hacked. In recent weeks it claimed responsibility for a sprawling ransomware… Continue reading Ransomware Gang REvil’s Websites Become Unreachable

Colonial Pipeline Attack Has Energy Companies Rushing to Secure Cyber Insurance

White storage tanks under a blue sky. Gasoline, oil, or other storage.

U.S. energy companies are scrambling to buy more cyber insurance after this month’s attack on Colonial Pipeline disrupted the U.S. fuel supply, but they can expect to pay more as cyber insurers plan to hike rates following a slew of ransomware attacks. The Colonial ransomware attack on May 7 shut the largest fuel pipeline network… Continue reading Colonial Pipeline Attack Has Energy Companies Rushing to Secure Cyber Insurance

Ransomware Took Heavy Toll on U.S. in 2020: Researchers

BEC attacks

Ransomware attacks took a heavy toll on the United States last year with more than 2,000 victims in government, education and health care, security researchers say in a new report. The study released Monday by the security firm Emsisoft said ransomware attacks — which encrypt and disable computer systems while demanding a ransom — affected… Continue reading Ransomware Took Heavy Toll on U.S. in 2020: Researchers

Ransomware Severity and Costs Increase in 2020

BEC attacks

Specialist insurer Beazley has reported that ransomware attacks increased in terms of both severity and costs this year compared to 2019 and have become the biggest cyber threat facing organizations. According to the latest Beazley Breach Insights report, published today, the total cost of ransom payments doubled year-on-year through the first six months of 2020,… Continue reading Ransomware Severity and Costs Increase in 2020