Federal Ransomware Response Sparks Call for Closer Coordination

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency should more closely coordinate to better assist victims of ransomware attacks, according to a report from Sen. Rob Portman that relayed accounts from U.S. companies hit by Russia-based ransomware group REvil.

Close coordination would let the FBI investigate hackers responsible for ransomware attacks while allowing CISA to provide the technical assistance hack victims need to recover, the report said. Ransomware is a form of cyberattack where hackers lock up a victim’s data and demand payment in exchange for restoring access.

Such attacks are on the rise as hackers ...