Articles by Chris Strohm and Katrina Manson

U.S., Allies Dismantle 20-Year Russian Malware Spying Operation

The US and allied countries have disrupted a wide-ranging Russian hacking operation that spied on its adversaries over some 20 years, the Justice Department announced. Law enforcement agencies penetrated a global network of computers infected with malicious software that the …

‘Strike Force’ to Thwart Theft or Use of Disruptive Technology

US enforcement agencies are forming a “strike force” to combat adversaries trying to steal advanced technology, hack for financial gain or use new tools to collect intelligence. The move comes as government officials are grappling with how to respond to …

Bayer to Pay $40 Million Over Whistle-Blower’s Bribe Claims

Bayer AG agreed to pay $40 million to resolve US lawsuits linked to allegations that company officials bribed hospitals and physicians to use its drugs. The settlement stems from two “whistle-blower” suits filed by ex-marketing employee Laurie Simpson almost two …

‘Cyber Bullets’ Are Part of War on Hacks, Says U.S. Cyber Director

The U.S. government should be prepared to fire “cyber bullets” in response to significant hacking attacks as part of a comprehensive strategy to dissuade adversaries, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said. President Joe Biden has been receptive to proposals to …

FBI Chief Wray Warns Cyber-Attacked Firms Not to Pay Ransoms

Companies and organizations that are victims of ransomware attacks shouldn’t pay hackers to unlock their data and should quickly contact law enforcement, which opens up the possibility of creative solutions, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “It is our policy, it …

FBI Recovers Most of Bitcoin Ransom Paid by Colonial Pipeline

The U.S. recovered almost all the Bitcoin ransom paid to the perpetrators of the cyber attack on Colonial Pipeline Co. last month in a sign that law enforcement is capable of pursuing online criminals even when they operate outside the …

Justice Department Outlines Proposed Overhaul of Social Media Immunity

The Justice Department on Wednesday outlined a broad overhaul of legal protections for online platforms such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. if they deliberately promote illegal speech on their websites. The proposals, which could upend the companies’ business …

Using Big Data to Predict Terrorist Acts Amid Privacy Concerns

Before Ahmad Khan Rahami planted bombs in New York and New Jersey, he bought bomb-making materials on eBay, linked to jihad-related videos from his public social-media account and was looked into by law enforcement agents, according to the Federal Bureau …

U.S. Intelligence to Help Companies Thwart Supply-Chain Hacking

U.S. intelligence officials are planning to provide information including classified threat reports to companies about the risks of hacking and other crimes tied to the supplies and services they buy. The effort is part of a new campaign by the …

FBI Warns of More Terrorist Attacks in U.S. as ISIS Is Defeated in Syria

Hundreds of terrorists will fan out to infiltrate western Europe and the U.S. to carry out attacks on a wider scale as Islamic State is defeated in Syria, FBI Director James Comey warned. “At some point there’s going to be …