US State Department Promoted its Cryptocurrency Rewards Program to Hackers
The US government promoted its rewards program that pays cryptocurrencies to informants about malicious cyber activities, and other informatic crimes at a hacker conference.
The United States Department of State is now promoting to hackers its reward program that pays with cryptocurrencies in exchange for vital information to fight against malicious cyber activities that would harm the nation’s critical infrastructure.
An advertisement for the program came to light at the famous Black Hat conference, which brings together hackers and other cybersecurity personalities. The CNN news outlet reported that government agency officials revealed the proposal during the event that took place in Las Vegas last week.
Through an open Wi-Fi network called #Rewardsnotransoms (Rewards, not ransoms), conference attendees gained access to a web page with informative data regarding the new rewards initiative. The State Department also brought T-shirts and flyers during the convention, according to the report.
This measure would represent the first time the US government has promoted its rewards program to a specific audience. The reason is that, for the first time, the almost four-decade program, Rewards for Justice or Rewards for Justice (RFJ), would include in its policies the chance for informants to report anonymously and receive payments in digital currencies as a reward for their contributions.
Cryptocurrency Rewards
The measure came from the government agency last month. The US Department of State’s RFJ program, which is run by the Diplomatic Security Service, indicated that Dark Web whistleblowers can now receive up to $ 10 million in cryptocurrencies in exchange for vital information about cryptocurrencies, and hackers who seem to be threats to the American country.
To accomplish this goal, the office opened a new dark web-tip reporting channel that intends to create a protective barrier and grant the safety of potential sources. The program will pay for the identification or location of any person who, while acting under the direction or control of a foreign government, engages in malicious cyber activities, crimes, and filtrations against critical US infrastructure.
The RFJ program has been active since 1984 and had paid more than $ 150 million in cash and wire transfers for information related to terrorist financing and weapons of mass destruction. Now, the program would include cryptocurrencies for the first time to attract communities in cyberspace. This inclusion would help to tackle the ransomware attacks issue.
Strategy Against Ransomware Attacks
The new State Department program initiative is part of a series of other measures taken by the administration of US President Joe Biden to shore up cybersecurity in the country.
The US government intended to expand cryptocurrency analytics as part of a strategy. Biden administration wants to fight against ransomware attacks. The measures came right after the United States of America got hit by two large ransomware attacks.
In May, a ransomware group stole more than $90 million from a US gas pipeline company called Colonial Pipeline. A month later, JBS meat processing plants in the US received another massive attack by ransomware hackers. The company eventually paid a ransom estimated at $ 11 million to the hackers.
By: Jenson Nuñez
