Biden Told Russian Leader to Stop Computer Attacks

 

American President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call last Friday that he must "take action" against cybercriminals.

The call came less than a month after the two leaders met in Geneva, Switzerland. Biden warned Putin against permitting cyberattacks on U.S. businesses and infrastructure¹ from Russia. Recently, a new ransomware attack linked to the REvil hacking² group based in Russia caused widespread disruption around the world.

The White House said, "President Biden reiterated⁴ that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge."

The REvil attack

Cybersecurity experts quickly identified the organization that calls itself REvil as responsible for the most recent attacks. The Russia-linked group even seemed to admit involvement publicly. The group offered a software tool on their website to recover data from all affected⁵ computers at a cost of $70 million in cryptocurrency.

The latest attack affected as many as 1,500 businesses around the world. U.S. officials said the damage appeared to be minor⁶. Cybersecurity experts, however, said their information remains⁷ incomplete.

The attack used software that permits computer professionals to enter a computer system from a distance. The company Kaseya, which is based in Miami, Florida, makes the software.

U.S. officials say they have talked with private businesses about strengthening their computer defenses. They have also tried to make it harder to collect ransomware payments. But the government has been slow to carry out its own offensive cyberattacks because of concerns it could grow into a greater crisis. There are also limits to what the U.S. can do to stop Russian cybercriminals.

Biden's meeting with Putin

During their meeting in June, Biden said he gave Putin a list of 16 important parts of U.S. infrastructure that he said were off-limits to attack. They included water systems and the energy industry. He said, "responsible countries need to take action against criminals who conduct ransomware activities on their territory."

Biden also suggested that he told Putin he is ready to answer should the Russians go too far. "I pointed⁸ out to him that we have significant cyber capability⁹. And he knows it," Biden said.

But at the same time, Biden knows that punishing Russian actions can increase tensions. A cyberwar would work against the administration's goal of improving relations with Russia, say some experts.

Jonathan Trimble is a retired¹⁰ FBI agent and cybersecurity executive. He said the U.S. must answer cyberattacks without losing control "or increase it to a conflict that goes beyond the cyberspace¹¹."

Fighting ransomware attacks

A National Security Council spokesperson said fighting ransomware is important but bringing such attacks to an end will not happen quickly.

The administration already has acted against the Russians for spying. In April, the U.S. government expelled 10 Russian diplomats¹² and placed restrictions¹³ on several people and companies. They were punished for interference in last year's presidential election and cyberattacks on federal agencies.

The U.S. can bring legal charges against the criminals but if they do not leave Russia voluntarily, there is little chance that they will appear in American courts. Even with legal action, attacks continue to come from Russia and also China.

In at least some cases, officials can recover the money victims paid to criminals. The Justice Department took back part of the $4.4 million paid to those responsible for the attack on Colonial Pipeline¹⁴ in May. That attack blocked the gasoline supply in the southeast U.S. for days.

James Lewis is a senior vice¹⁵ president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said the U.S. has been in a defensive¹⁶ position for too long. He said the government could act by limiting cyber criminals' use of financial networks or carrying its own hacks¹⁷ on the hackers¹⁸.

"These are all tough choices, Lewis said. He added that the U.S. position is usually to be careful, which is why the attacks continue.

Words in This Story

cyber - combining form. related to use of a computer

hack³, hacker¹⁹ –n. to secretly get into a computer system to get information or cause damage; a person who hacks computers

ransomware – n. a computer program that locks a computer until an amount of money is paid

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

conduct – v. to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

cryptocurrency –n. a kind of money that is exchanged only through computers and that is not supported by the government of any country

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

3 hack   

n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳

参考例句：

• He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。
• Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

4 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 cyberspace   

n.虚拟信息空间，网络空间，计算机化世界

参考例句：

• She travels in cyberspace by sending messages to friends around the world.她利用电子空间给世界各地的朋友们发送信件。
• The teens spend more time in cyberspace than in the real world of friends and family.青少年花费在电脑上的时间比他们和真正的朋友及家人在一起的时间要多。

12 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

14 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

15 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

16 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

17 hacks   

黑客

参考例句：

• But there are hacks who take advantage of people like Teddy. 但有些无赖会占类似泰迪的人的便宜。 来自电影对白
• I want those two hacks back here, right now. 我要那两个雇工回到这儿，现在就回。 来自互联网

18 hackers   

n.计算机迷( hacker的名词复数 )；私自存取或篡改电脑资料者，电脑“黑客”

参考例句：

• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Arranging a meeting with the hackers took weeks againoff-again email exchanges. 通过几星期电子邮件往来安排见面，他们最终同意了。 来自互联网

19 hacker   

n.能盗用或偷改电脑中信息的人，电脑黑客

参考例句：

• The computer hacker wrote that he was from Russia.这个计算机黑客自称他来自俄罗斯。
• This site was attacked by a hacker last week.上周这个网站被黑客攻击了。