Efforts to curb ransomware crimes face limits

Significance

The pressure has intensified following two costly and highly disruptive double-extortion ransomware attacks against US-based firms -- one against Colonial Pipeline in early May and the other against JBS Foods in early June.

Impacts

• Russian-based cybercriminals will mainly target Western entities, safe because there is no extradition treaty with the EU or Washington.
• Sophisticated and careful victim selection will allow hackers to increase ransom demands.
• Western ‘hackback’ operations are likely to rise following the FBI’s recent success against DarkSide.