On July 15, 2021, the DOJ and DHS together with additional federal partners launched StopRansomware.gov, a one-stop hub intended to help the private and public sector mitigate the threat of ransomware. The website includes a range of resources geared towards private organizations, public and private critical infrastructure sectors, K-12 educational institutions, and state, local, tribal, […]
Cybersecurity
Colorado Becomes the Third State to Adopt a General Privacy Law
On July 7, Colorado became the third state behind California and Virginia to adopt a comprehensive privacy law when Governor Jared Polis signed the Colorado Privacy Act into law. The CPA contains many similarities to the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights […]
NYDFS Issues Guidance on Cybersecurity Controls to Combat Ransomware and Clarifies Reporting Obligations
The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) issued new guidance this week intended to assist organizations in thwarting ransomware attacks. The guidance clarifies the NYDFS’ expectation that NYDFS-regulated companies should “implement these controls whenever possible” and report any successful deployment of ransomware or unauthorized access to privilege accounts to the NYDFS under its established […]
DOJ Seizure of Ransom Payment Signals More Aggressive Stance by U.S. Government
Following the creation of the DOJ’s Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force in April 2021 and on the heels of the Biden administration’s characterization of ransomware as a national security threat, on June 7, 2021, the DOJ announced it has seized $2.3 million (63.7 bitcoin) in proceeds from a recent ransom paid to DarkSide in […]
The Supreme Court Narrows The Scope of The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Today, the Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision in Van Buren v. United States interpreting the meaning of “exceeds authorized access” under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”). The 6-3 majority, led by Justice Barrett and joined by Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, rejected the Government’s broad definition of this phrase. While […]