The United States government says it will pay up to $10 million for information on criminal activity over computer networks against important U.S. infrastructure. Cyber criminals often take advantage of openings in security to take control of computer systems. They then ask for large amounts of money often millions of dollars to give back control of the system to the owner. This is known as a ransom. The U.S. government believes these criminals do their work without fear of arrest in Russia and several other countries. People can now send information, known as a tip, about criminals to the U.S. government. They can send tips without giving their name through a form on the part of the internet known as the dark web. Sometimes the U.S. government is the target of a cyberattack, but other times, private companies that are important to the U.S. economy are victims as well. For example, an attack earlier this year against Colonial Pipeline disrupted work and travel for about a week in the eastern part of the U.S. The criminal group used software known as ransomware to take control of the pipeline’s computer systems. It only released its control after getting a payment of over $4 million. Most of the money was later recovered by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. REvil, another criminal group based in Russia, launched a ransomware attack on July 2 against more than 1,000 organizations and businesses around the world. After the group’s disappearance, an administration official would not say if the U.S. made the group go away. And a Russian official said he did not know about the group. Some cybercrime experts, however, think REvil may have disappeared to avoid U.S. officials. President Joe Biden’s administration is also educating businesses and individuals on how to keep their computer systems safe through a new website called stopransomware.gov. And the U.S. Treasury Department said it will work with banks and technology companies to avoid becoming victims of ransomware attacks.
Title: US Fights Ransomware with $10 Million Reward
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/A.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='US Fights Ransomware with $10 Million Reward' data-article-id='5788'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='15979'>The United States government says it will pay up to $10 million for information on criminal activity over computer networks against important U.S. infrastructure.</span> <span data-start-time='15979' data-end-time='27167'>Cyber criminals often take advantage of openings in security to take control of computer systems. </span> <span data-start-time='27167' data-end-time='39542'>They then ask for large amounts of money often millions of dollars to give back control of the system to the owner. </span> <span data-start-time='39542' data-end-time='42521'>This is known as a ransom. </span> <span data-start-time='42521' data-end-time='56146'>The U.S. government believes these criminals do their work without fear of arrest in Russia and several other countries.</span> <span data-start-time='56146' data-end-time='65750'>People can now send information, known as a tip, about criminals to the U.S. government. </span> <span data-start-time='65750' data-end-time='77938'>They can send tips without giving their name through a form on the part of the internet known as the dark web.</span> <span data-start-time='77938' data-end-time='93208'>Sometimes the U.S. government is the target of a cyberattack, but other times, private companies that are important to the U.S. economy are victims as well.</span> <span data-start-time='93208' data-end-time='109542'>For example, an attack earlier this year against Colonial Pipeline disrupted work and travel for about a week in the eastern part of the U.S. </span> <span data-start-time='109542' data-end-time='121729'>The criminal group used software known as ransomware to take control of the pipeline’s computer systems. </span> <span data-start-time='121729' data-end-time='130021'>It only released its control after getting a payment of over $4 million. </span> <span data-start-time='130021' data-end-time='137854'>Most of the money was later recovered by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.</span> <span data-start-time='137854' data-end-time='155313'>REvil, another criminal group based in Russia, launched a ransomware attack on July 2 against more than 1,000 organizations and businesses around the world. </span> <span data-start-time='155313' data-end-time='166250'>After the group’s disappearance, an administration official would not say if the U.S. made the group go away. </span> <span data-start-time='166250' data-end-time='171375'>And a Russian official said he did not know about the group.</span> <span data-start-time='171375' data-end-time='183167'>Some cybercrime experts, however, think REvil may have disappeared to avoid U.S. officials.</span> <span data-start-time='183167' data-end-time='199688'>President Joe Biden’s administration is also educating businesses and individuals on how to keep their computer systems safe through a new website called stopransomware.gov.</span> <span data-start-time='199688' data-end-time='211563'>And the U.S. Treasury Department said it will work with banks and technology companies to avoid becoming victims of ransomware attacks.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/A.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17800 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/what_is_infrastructure.wav'>What is infrastructure?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/obstruction_of_the_blood_supply_to_an_organ_or_region_of_tissue.wav'><span>obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/the_infrared_region_of_the_spectrum.wav'><span>the infrared region of the spectrum</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/a_formal_charge_or_accusation_of_a_serious_crime.wav'><span>a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/the_basic_equipment_and_structures_such_as_roads_and_bridges_that_are_needed_for_a_country_region_or_organization_to_function_properly.wav'><span>the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17801 data-hint-location='93208' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/what_was_the_name_of_the_company_that_was_targeted_earlier_this_year_in_a_ransomware_attack_that_disrupted_work_and_travel_in_the_eastern_part_of_the_us.wav'>What was the name of the company that was targeted earlier this year in a ransomware attack that disrupted work and travel in the eastern part of the U.S.?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Colonial Pipeline'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/sunoco.wav'><span>Sunoco</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/texaco.wav'><span>Texaco</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/mcdonalds.wav'><span>McDonald's</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/colonial_pipeline.wav'><span>Colonial Pipeline</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17802 data-hint-location='130021' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/most_of_the_money_was_later_recovered_by_the_us_federal_bureau_of__blank_.wav'>Most of the money was later recovered by the U.S. Federal Bureau of <span class='blank'>Investigation</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Investigation'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/pancakes.wav'><span>Pancakes</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/infrastructure.wav'><span>Infrastructure</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/ransom.wav'><span>Ransom</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5209/investigation.wav'><span>Investigation</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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