U.S. restores most $ 4.4 million bailout paid by Colonial Pipeline News of Cybercrime News

U.S. intelligence officials say stopping cyberattacks has become a national security priority, and U.S. President Joe Biden plans to carry out attacks when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

The U.S. has recovered a maximum of $ 4.4 million paid to the perpetrators of a cyber attack on Colonial Pipeline Co. last month that has temporarily halted fuel supplies along the U.S. east coast, said Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

“Ransomware attacks are always unacceptable, but when they target critical infrastructure we will make no effort in our response,” Monaco told reporters Monday.

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said law enforcement has identified the virtual wallet used in the rescue payment and then recovered the funds. He said investigators found more than 90 companies victimized by DarkSide, a Russian-linked cybercrime group blamed for the pipes.

“Today we turned to DarkSide,” Monaco said, calling on companies to invest more in protecting their critical infrastructure and intellectual property. “DarkSide and its subsidiaries are being tracked digitally by U.S. companies for a better year last year.”

The ransomware attack in May caused fuel shortages at gas stations in several states and also affected some airlines and airports. It was part of the growing trend of these actions against critical infrastructure, which is undergoing an early test by President Joe Biden’s administration.

Colonial Pipeline ended up paying DarkSide to help it recover from its operations.

U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials have said stopping hacking attacks has become a national security priority, and the issue has sparked tensions between the U.S. and Russia. Biden is scheduled to bring hacking attacks when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

At a one-on-one meeting in Geneva on June 16, the message will be: “States responsible do not receive ransomware criminals, and responsible countries must take decisive action against these ransomware networks,” Psaki said. Putin has denied being aware of or involved in ransomware attacks.

Brazil’s largest JBS SA began meat production in the world last week after a ransomware attack forced it to suspend operations around the world.