But little has been done to prevent such attacks and it is time for authorities to start taking action including classifying ransomware activities as a form of terrorism.Ī Threat to Healthcare Providers and Citizens’ Safety Hijacking institutions, intimidating people, coercing companies to pay a ransom, causing serious physical property damage, and disrupting civil order are all threats to the economic prosperity and security of the United States and should be treated as acts of terror. The ransomware operators’ principal tactics include intimidation, coercion, and extortion until the victim entity capitulates to their demands in order to avoid future injury or secondary effects. Ransomware gangs have been hijacking the IT systems, data, and operations of our hospitals, schools, corporations, and critical infrastructure services - thereby disrupting civil order and stability by interfering with the peace, security, and normal functioning of our communities. Department of Justice claims that at least 4,000 ransomware attacks occur daily and security firm Check Point observed that an organization fell victim to a ransomware attack on average every 10 seconds in 2020. This event has broadly impacted millions of Americans and received significant media coverage, but it is not unique or isolated. The timeline for full (and safe) restoration is still unknown. The result has been fuel shortages and a surge in prices. Colonial’s temporary halt of its pipeline operations was a proactive measure to protect those systems from being fatally encrypted like other parts of its corporate network. The flow of roughly 45% of the fuel consumed on the East Coast of the United States has been halted because Colonial Pipeline’s information technology (IT) systems (computers, applications, and data) were hijacked by DarkSide, a ransomware operator with links to Russia. One brazen incident has created a sense of urgency and catalyzed an acute awareness of the impacts of ransomware. Ransomware Operators Are Increasingly Acting Like Terrorists
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