The Department of Justice is planning to coordinate its ransomware attack investigations with similar protocols it uses for terrorism cases, according to internal guidance sent to U.S. attorney’s offices reviewed byIn May, a criminal group breached the Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined products pipeline network in the country.
The attack forced the pipeline to shutdown, halting fuel deliveries along the East Coast for days. The company paid theto temporarily shut down this week, exposing the vulnerability of the world's largest meat processor.
“It’s a specialized process to ensure we track all ransomware cases regardless of where it may be referred in this country, so you can make the connections between actors and work your way up to disrupt the whole chain,” said John Carlin, acting deputy attorney general at the Justice Department, per Reuters.The Justice Department's decision to use these protocols for ransomware attack investigations "illustrates how the issue is being prioritized," Reuters reported, citing U.S.