Conti Ransomware Attack Spurs State of Emergency in Costa Rica

Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves declared a state of national cybersecurity emergency over the weekend following a financially motivated Conti ransomware attack against his administration that has hamstrung the government and economy of the Latin American nation. The attack attributed to the prolific Conti ransomware group occurred three weeks ago not long after Chaves took office; in fact, the state of emergency was one of his first decrees as president.

Other Costa Rican agencies affected include the Ministry of Labor and Social Security; the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications; the National Meteorological Institute, among others.

The U.S. also will offer up to $5 million for info that can lead to the arrest or conviction of anyone conspiring in a Conti ransomware attack. While authorities pursue Conti, governments can take a number of steps to prevent ransomware attacks, security professionals noted.

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