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Countries harboring cybercriminals are at risk of falling under US sanctions.
The US Senate has proposed that ransomware attacks should be considered the equivalent of terrorism, which could be a turning point in the fight against cybercrime.
The bill, supported by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, recognizes ransomware groups as "hostile foreign cybercriminals" and names states that harbor such groups as "state sponsors of ransomware," leading to sanctions against such countries. The bill also gives US intelligence more powers to deal with criminals, making extortion a priority national threat.
Such legislation would be the first in the United States to directly link extortion to terrorism. According to experts, the bill is an official recognition of the economic damage that extortion causes to the United States and its allies.
However, some experts doubt that the new law will significantly change the situation. Experts believe that many countries that have already been subjected to serious sanctions will not change their behavior due to the new measures. In addition, ransomware groups often change their names and structures, which makes it difficult to identify and prosecute them, as was the case with the Conti group after the breakup.
Supporters of the law believe that it sends an important signal about the serious intentions of the United States to fight cybercrime. The call to label extortion groups as "hostile foreign threat actors" may be interpreted as a warning that US intelligence will be actively engaged in harassment. This is especially important for groups that target critical infrastructure, such as hospitals.
The bill also provides for measures against countries that support extortion schemes, providing shelter to criminals. The US president will be allowed to impose sanctions on such countries as state sponsors of terrorism. Additionally, the Secretary of the Treasury is charged with submitting a report to Congress on the number and geographical location of individuals, groups and organizations involved in extortion and subject to sanctions.
Source
The US Senate has proposed that ransomware attacks should be considered the equivalent of terrorism, which could be a turning point in the fight against cybercrime.
The bill, supported by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, recognizes ransomware groups as "hostile foreign cybercriminals" and names states that harbor such groups as "state sponsors of ransomware," leading to sanctions against such countries. The bill also gives US intelligence more powers to deal with criminals, making extortion a priority national threat.
Such legislation would be the first in the United States to directly link extortion to terrorism. According to experts, the bill is an official recognition of the economic damage that extortion causes to the United States and its allies.
However, some experts doubt that the new law will significantly change the situation. Experts believe that many countries that have already been subjected to serious sanctions will not change their behavior due to the new measures. In addition, ransomware groups often change their names and structures, which makes it difficult to identify and prosecute them, as was the case with the Conti group after the breakup.
Supporters of the law believe that it sends an important signal about the serious intentions of the United States to fight cybercrime. The call to label extortion groups as "hostile foreign threat actors" may be interpreted as a warning that US intelligence will be actively engaged in harassment. This is especially important for groups that target critical infrastructure, such as hospitals.
The bill also provides for measures against countries that support extortion schemes, providing shelter to criminals. The US president will be allowed to impose sanctions on such countries as state sponsors of terrorism. Additionally, the Secretary of the Treasury is charged with submitting a report to Congress on the number and geographical location of individuals, groups and organizations involved in extortion and subject to sanctions.
Source
