Click Here 161. Mic Drop: Can ransomware be an act of terror?
Aug 30, 2024
John Riggi, a former FBI agent, delves into the implications of new legislation that aims to classify certain ransomware attacks as acts of terror. He discusses the potential shift in government responses, including military interventions against cyber threats. Riggi emphasizes the importance of transitioning to offensive cybersecurity strategies to outmaneuver attackers. He also explores the evolving landscape of cyber threats, linking them to national security concerns and the adaptation of both criminal organizations and terrorist groups to technology.
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Ransomware as Terrorism Shift
- Legislation aims to reclassify ransomware attacks as acts of terrorism, raising them to national security threats.
- This would enable harsher penalties and allow military cyber forces more aggressive intervention.
Use Stronger Cyber Measures
- Elevating ransomware attacks to national security threats would unlock more powerful countermeasures.
- This means using "big, heavy, cyber guns" to disrupt ransomware groups effectively.
Hospital Attacks = Terrorism?
- Ransomware attacks on hospitals threaten lives and public health, akin to mass casualty terrorist acts.
- These crimes cause cascading effects like delayed medical care that can harm patients long-term.