Table of Contents
More on the Statement
- The Foreign Ministers have announced their decision to act against malicious cyber activity against critical infrastructure.
- The statement appreciated the progress made by the 36 countries supporting the US-led Counter Ransomware Initiative and the regular, practical-oriented consultations against cybercrime in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Support to tackle ransomware:
- The Quad partners have pledged to assist each other in ensuring the security and resilience of regional cyber infrastructure against ransomware.
- Quad countries have announced their support to regional initiatives to enhance the capacity of countries to implement the UN Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace.
- Multi-stakeholder approach:
- They stressed on multi-stakeholder approach for counter-ransomware capacity building, including promoting the role of existing mechanisms such as the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise.
- The multi-stakeholder approach to internet governance will uphold shared values in the design and use of technologies and cyberspace across the region.
- Address cybercrime:
- New treaty: The alliance has welcomed negotiations of a possible new UN cybercrime convention that can address cybercrime more broadly which will have utility in countering ransomware.
- A new treaty has to be drafted in a technologically neutral and flexible manner, which does not criminalize specific technologies.
Ransomware
- Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents users from accessing their system or personal files and demands ransom payment to restore access to the user.
- Ransomware attackers have targeted organisations of all sizes, regardless of their location.
- The global economic losses from ransomware, especially due to payments reached over USD 400 million globally in 2020.
Types of Ransomwares
- Crypto ransomware: It encrypts the victim’s file and promises to restore access after the payment of certain amount in ransom.
- Leaking ransomware: Also called leakware, it threatens to publish stolen information from the victim’s computer system rather than deny the victim access to it.
- Scareware: It is a type of malware tactic that manipulates victims into downloading or buying potentially malware-infested software.
- Locker ransomware: Locker ransomware shuts down the entire computer or mobile device. Victims have to pay a ransom to release the computer or mobile device.
Ransomware in News:
- WannaCry, Pettya, SamSam, Ryuk, Lapsus$, Hive, REvil.
Counter Ransomware Initiative
- International Counter Ransomware Initiative is a US-led group to counter ransomware threats. Under the initiative, discussions on ransomware will be lead by four countries:
- India – resilience (strengthening resilience to withstand ransomware attacks)
- Australia – disruption (disrupt ransomware infrastructure and participants)
- UK – virtual currency (abuse of virtual currency for ransom laundering)
- Germany – diplomacy (leveraging international cooperation to destroy the ransomware ecosystem and address safe harbours for cyber criminals)
- UN Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace
- They are 11 voluntary and non-binding rules that describe what states should and should not be doing in cyberspace.
- The objectives of the norms are to reduce risks to international peace and security, and to contribute to conflict prevention.
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