U.S. infiltrates, dismantles big ransomware gang
PBS NewsHourJan 26, 2023
The FBI has seized the computer infrastructure used by a prominent ransomware group, which has extorted over $100M from hospitals, schools, and other victims across the globe, US officials announced Thursday.
Hive ransomware is one of the most notorious hacker gangs in the world, and the US government issued a November advisory about the group’s cyberattacks. Ransomware hackers received heightened focus after a cyberattack forced a major US pipeline operator offline in 2021.
The US government has made great progress in the arena of cybersecurity and is taking the necessary steps to address the growing threat of ransomware attacks. The intelligence community has rightly prioritized shutting down nefarious hacker groups — its efforts are clearly paying off.
The federal government has not taken cybersecurity seriously enough, and even government-created watchdog groups recognize the lack of urgency. Federal agencies need to be held accountable for their slow pace. Antiquated systems simply lag behind sophisticated hackers waiting to wreak havoc.