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U.S. Establishes Cyberattack Countering Unit for Defense

US Establishes Trans-Governmental Team to Counter Cyber Threats, Offering $10 Million Reward for Detecting Vulnerabilities and Enhancing Protection against Ransomware and Russian Digital Assailants.

United States Establishes Cyberattack Defense Squad to Respond to Digital Threats
United States Establishes Cyberattack Defense Squad to Respond to Digital Threats

U.S. Establishes Cyberattack Countering Unit for Defense

Jen Easterly has assumed her role as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), providing the beleaguered agency with its first permanent chief since last November. Amidst a series of cyberattacks attributed to hacker groups belonging to Russia, the Biden administration has announced plans to increase security against these threats.

The specific details of the administration's cybersecurity plan have not been disclosed, but it is known that the plan includes coordinating a series of defensive and offensive measures against ransomware and other cyberattacks. Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology, examined the plan during a 35-minute briefing for senators.

The administration's plan also aims to increase cooperation with international allies such as the EU, OSCE, and NATO to develop joint strategies against hybrid threats. Moreover, the plan seeks to improve the defense of democratic institutions, including election security and media transparency, and enhance regulations and guidelines for emerging technologies like AI to reduce vulnerabilities.

In addition, the administration is considering partnerships with cyber insurance providers and other agencies to get information about attacks more quickly. The administration has also offered a $10 million bounty for identifying the perpetrators of cyberattacks.

Recent attacks by hacker groups belonging to Russia have resulted in the disabling of most of the East Coast's gasoline supply, the destruction of a meat processing company, and the breach of the IT software vendor Kaseya. No new information about these specific incidents has been disclosed.

Senators are expected to introduce new legislation that requires a wide range of companies, including critical infrastructure operators, to report hacks to the government. John Katko, a representative, expressed the need for a robust response to Russia's cyberattacks, stating, "We've got to send a robust, even disproportionate, message to Russia that we're not going to tolerate this."

Experts are pressuring President Joe Biden to respond strongly to attacks from Russia. In a recent statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "President Biden has been crystal clear with President Putin: the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to harmful actions by Russia."

Meanwhile, the DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will launch an interagency website, stopransomware.gov, to collect defensive guidance from various agencies. Neuberger informed senators that the White House will announce three other steps in the coming days.

Federal officials have reported that the lack of information about private sector breaches hinders their ability to protect the country from digital threats. In light of this, the administration is emphasising the importance of increased cooperation and information sharing between the public and private sectors.

As the situation continues to evolve, the administration's efforts to combat increasing cyberattacks are a significant step towards enhancing the nation's cybersecurity posture and ensuring the protection of critical infrastructure.

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