A ransomware attack on JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, by a criminal group likely based in Russia has strengthened the Biden administration’s resolve to hold Moscow responsible for costly cyber assaults – even if they are not directly linked to the Kremlin.
US President Joe Biden has launched a review of the threat posed by ransomware attacks and he will discuss the issue of harbouring such hackers with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, the White House said on Wednesday.
“President Biden certainly thinks that President Putin and the Russian government has a role to play in stopping and preventing these attacks,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.
The JBS hack is the third major cyberattack linked to hackers from Russia since Biden took office in January, following attacks aimed at Colonial Pipeline and software made by SolarWinds. JBS is a Brazilian company with extensive US operations.
“Biden has indicated his willingness to hold Russia accountable in some way for the pipeline attack, even though it was carried out by a criminal organisation,” said Tom Bossert, a top homeland security adviser to former President Donald Trump. “That’s a big leap forward.”
The White House plans to use a June 16 summit between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin to deliver a clear message to the Russian leader, officials said. A next step could be destabilisation of the computer servers used to carry out such hacks, some cyber experts say.
Biden has…
