A top Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said he was unable to provide a “definitive assessment” to lawmakers as to whether Russian-linked cyberattacks have decreased since President Joe Biden discussed ransomware with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a June summit meeting and during an hour-long phone call in July.
Rob Silvers, undersecretary for strategy, policy, and plans for DHS, suggested his department lacked critical data and information about ransomware attacks targeting the private sector and civilian agencies, while expressing support for cyber incident reporting requirements featured in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act currently making its way through Congress.
