The White House’s response to the ransomware attack shows there’s no one-size-fits-all response to cyberattacks.
WASHINGTON — The White House’s formal accusation Tuesday that North Korea was behind the WannaCry ransomware attack demonstrates that there’s no one-size-fits-all response to cyberattacks.
For North Korea, the White House gave an unambiguous statement of culpability Tuesday: « After careful investigation, the United States is publicly attributing the massive WannaCry cyberattack to North Korea. We do not make this allegation lightly. We do so with evidence, and we do so with partners, » White House Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert said Tuesday.
But the consequences of that attack will be little more than public shaming, President Trump’s homeland security adviser said Tuesday.
« It’s not about holding a country accountable. It’s about simple culpability, » Tom Bossert said. » And we’re going to shame them for it. »
Contrast that with how President Trump has reacted to the intelligence agencies’ assessment that Russia coordinated the campaign to hack email accounts of Democratic campaign officials last year. While Trump has at times said he agrees with the intelligence community’s attribution of the presidential election meddling, he has shied from using his position to take Moscow to task.
As recently as last month, Trump seemed to take Russian President Vladimir Putin at his word that Russia didn’t do it. « I believe he believes that, and that’s very important for somebody to believe. I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election, » Trump said then.
Bossert suggested Tuesday that actions speak louder than words when it comes to Russia.
