White House convenes 30 countries for ransomware and cybersecurity talks

The U.S. government is doubling down on its efforts against cybercrime and ransomware, this time by enlisting the cooperation of 30 other nations. White House will be holding a meeting with these nations as it seeks to combat the use of digital currencies in cybercrime, improve international cooperation, and more.

Since he took office, U.S. President Joe Biden has been tough on cybercrime at a time when it’s becoming rampant in the U.S. and beyond. In the latest statement from his White House on the issue, he has called for a public-private partnership to combat the vice, outlined the efforts his government has already put in place, and revealed some of the measures it will take before the year ends.

Global cooperation is critical in fighting cybercriminals, the White House claimed in a recent statement. In this regard, it has been partnering closely with its G7 partners, NATO allies, and other like-minded states.

“This month, the United States will bring together 30 countries to accelerate our cooperation in combatting cybercrime, improving law enforcement collaboration, stemming the illicit use of cryptocurrency, and engaging on these issues diplomatically,” the statement revealed.

White House also called on the public to play its part in stemming out cybercrime. “We must lock our digital doors — by encrypting our data and using multifactor authentication, for example—and we must build technology securely by design, enabling consumers to understand the risks in the technologies they buy,” it said.

The Biden administration previously issued a six-point guide to the U.S. public on how to enhance its security against cybercrime. They included backing up data and regularly testing it, updating and patching systems promptly, and testing the incident response plan.

Aside from its proactive measures, the Biden administration has also stepped up its efforts in going after cybercriminals. The Justice Department recovered over $2 million paid in ransom by Colonial Pipeline. Last month, the government also issued the first sanctions against a digital currency exchange linked to ransomware payments. Suex exchange, which is based in Russia, sees over 40% of its volume coming from illicit activities, the DoJ claimed while announcing the sanctions.

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