Department of Justice Planning to Coordinate Anti-Ransomware Efforts Using Same Protocols Used for Terrorism

The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it plans to coordinate it’s anti-ransomware efforts with the same protocols it uses for terrorism. Yesterday Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco sent an internal memo directing prosecutors in the United States to report all ransomware investigations that they are working on so that the U.S. government can track online criminals easier. The memo cited ransomware as an urgent threat to the nation’s interests.

Tracking efforts not only covers the DOJ’s pursuit of ransomware criminals themselves but the cryptocurrency tools they use to receive payments, automated computer networks that spread ransomware and online marketplaces used to advertise or sell malicious software. The memo comes after hackers targeted the Colonial Pipeline last month and one of the leading meat processors, JBS USA, earlier this week.