President Joe Biden is asking private infrastructure companies to heighten their cybersecurity measures after recent attacks against the Colonial Pipeline caused a disruption in gas supply on the East Coast.
The cyberattack, which occurred in May, was reported to have been accompanied by a ransom request in bitcoin that amounted to nearly $5 million. It was also reported by the New York Times that the ransom, against the Biden administration's advice, was paid.
Paying off cybercriminals has the potential to create a threat against the U.S., making the country a target for larger, more dangerous attacks in the future, the report said.
"I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war – a real shooting war with a major power – it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a speech at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, according to Reuters.
When cyberattacks take place, hackers hold all sensitive data and threaten to leak the information if the ransom is not made. Hackers use a process called "dwelling" to get inside an organization's computer system to gain access to private information.
As a result of this phenomenon, the Institute for Security and Technology reports that ransom payments have increased by 300%, according to PBS.
While the president cannot require private infrastructure companies, like energy suppliers, to secure their cyber information, he signed a memorandum on July 28, encouraging the private sector to heighten its cybersecurity measures.
Additionally, Biden extended a promise to U.S. intelligence agencies that he has no political agenda for the work they do.
"I'll never politicize the work you do," he said at ODNI. "You have my word on that. It's too important for our country,"