Ransomware hacks against US likened to 9/11 terror attacks by FBI director who says ‘there are a lot of parallels’
FBI Director Christopher Wray has called on officials to step up their response to a series of cybersecurity attacks, comparing them to the 9/11 terror attacks.
The US has faced back-to-back cyber attacks in the last few weeks, which Wray compared to the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Asked if he would "retaliate against Russia for this latest ransomware attack," President Joe Biden said: "We're looking closely at that issue."
However, the president said "no" when the reporter then asked if he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin was "testing" him.
On Wednesday, the White House said that Biden would bring up the issue of cyber-attacks when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in two weeks in Geneva.
"Responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, adding that the US is "not taking any options off the table in terms of how we may respond" to future hacks.
The White House has launched a "rapid strategic review" of policies around ransomware, Psaki said.
The Biden administration will begin taking steps targeting the "disruption of ransomware infrastructure," while working closely with the private sector, the press secretary added.
Christopher Butera, head of Threat Hunting for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said on Wednesday that ransomware has ", especially in our state (and) local governments, as well as our critical instructor space."
Butera added that hacking groups have become "more brazen" and have "started to exfiltrate data and try to extort payments."
"I do think we will continue to see that happen," he warned, adding that cybersecurity reform should be top of the White House's agenda.