Joe Biden is reportedly considering new sanctions and cyberattacks on Russian infrastructure following the worst-ever hack that breached hundreds of US federal agencies.
As Reuters reported, people familiar with President-Elect Biden’s deliberations have confirmed that the incoming president is considering several options that could be taken in retaliation for the cyberattack on 200 government agencies.
According to the report, sources suggested that the action taken against the perpetrators should be high enough to prevent similar attacks in the future without risking a major conflict between the two world superpowers.
Among other retaliations, Biden is reportedly considering launching a cyber attack on the Russian infrastructure and imposing fresh financial sanctions once he takes office, sources told the publication.
Back on Thursday, Biden confirmed repercussions would follow the attack on the government as he vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable in an interview with CBS.
“They’ll be held accountable,” Biden said before insisting that both “individuals as well as entities” will face “financial repercussions.”
As cybersecurity expert James Andrew Lewis insisted, a “symbolic” response will not be enough in this case. “You want the Russians to know we’re pushing back,” he said.
In an official statement by the president-elect, Biden vowed to make the cybersecurity issue a top priority once he takes office.
“I want to be clear: My administration will make cybersecurity a top priority at every level of government – and we will make dealing with this breach a top priority from the moment we take office,” he said on Thursday.
“We will elevate cybersecurity as an imperative across the government, further strengthen partnerships with the private sector, and expand our investment in the infrastructure and people we need to defend against malicious cyberattacks.”
Speaking of the attack was also fired DHS Cybersecurity Chief Chris Krebs who admitted that the breach happened on his watch.
“It happened on my watch. We missed it. A bunch of other folks missed it. But there is work to do now going forward to make sure A: we get past this, that we get the Russians out of the networks, but, B: that it never happens again,” Krebs told CNN.
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