Task force lays out ways to counter ransomware threats

Inter-agency report comes amid rise in such cases from 89 in 2020 to 137 in 2021

- Osmond Chia

An inter-agency crack team commissioned to help businesses and national institutions tackle ransomware threats has published its first report, which breaks down how such attacks unfold and ways to fight them.

The task force also made recommendations to the Government on how it could counter successful ransomware attacks, such as by making it mandatory for victim organisations to report the payment of ransom.

It also urged the authorities to adopt a global approach by engaging international law enforcement partners and called on companies to identify critical assets while also segregating their networks, keeping these assets separate.

The Counter Ransomware Task Force CRTF), which released its inaugural report on Wednesday, comprises senior officers from the Cyber Security Agency CSA) of Singapore, Government Technology Agency, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Ministry of Communications and Information, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Force. It is also supported by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

The team was set up earlier this year.

Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo said the report is a blueprint for Singapore to counter ransomware attacks, which are on the rise globally. The number of cases reported grew from 89 in 2020 to137 in 2021, according to CSA.