US presents $10 mn bounty for DarkSide hackers

The United States introduced a $10 million reward Thursday for assist discovering leaders of the high-profile ransomware gang DarkSide, authorities’ newest strive at combating spiking cyber-extortion assaults.

Washington blamed the Russia-based group for the web assault that compelled the shutdown of the most important oil pipeline within the jap United States in May.

Cyber-extortion heists contain breaking into an organization or establishment’s community to encrypt its information, then demanding a ransom, usually paid through cryptocurrency in alternate for the digital key to unlock it.

“In offering this reward, the United States demonstrates its commitment to protecting ransomware victims around the world from exploitation by cyber criminals,” stated a US State Department assertion.

Washington additionally supplied a $5 million bounty for data resulting in the arrest or conviction in any nation of anybody who tries to hitch in an assault with DarkSide.

Despite the temptation probably provoked by the sums, not all cyber-security consultants have been satisfied the rewards could be efficient in unmasking hackers.

“Absent a bounty hunter willing to travel to their jurisdiction, put their unconscious body in a bag and dumping it at the nearest US embassy, I doubt this will have much of an impact,” stated John Bambenek at Netenrich, an IT and safety operations firm.

“To be fair, it certainly won’t hurt either,” he added.

Cyber crimes have been booming, with new information out in October exhibiting $590 million in ransomware-related funds have been reported to US authorities within the first half of 2021 alone.

The determine can be 42 p.c increased than the quantity divulged by financial institutions for all of 2020, the US Treasury report stated, and there are robust indicators the true price is probably going within the billions.

Companies and establishments face intense stress to pay up so as to get their information unlocked, but in addition to maintain the assault from probably offended shoppers and authorities who difficulty stern warnings to not give money to criminals.

© 2021 AFP