Source: www.databreachtoday.com – Author:
Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Ransomware
Project Mellissa Contributed Toward Disruptive Actions Akshaya Asokan (asokan_akshaya) • December 6, 2024
A counter-ransomware initiative supported by Dutch public and private sectors has contributed to ransomware disruptions globally, found an assessment from the University of Leiden.
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“Project Melissa” was launched in 2023 by Cybersafe Netherlands, the Dutch National Cyber Security Center, along with security companies with a focus on information sharing to facilitate disruption and criminal prosecution.
An analysis by the University of Leiden found the project played a vital role in operations such as Dutch participation in the takedown of the Genesis Market – an illicit marketplace – and seizure of LockBit ransomware infrastructure. The initiative helped the Dutch cyber agency to obtain more than 150 decryption keys of Deadbolt ransomware.
“Melissa is a valuable case for science and the cybersecurity field to gain a better insight into the ‘how’ of public-private partnerships for the future,” said, Bibi van der Berg, a professor of cybersecurity governance at Leiden University and a report author. She attributed the success of the project to its “clear focus and a limited scope.”
Project members meet once every six weeks to discuss tactics, techniques and procedures used by hackers. These regular meetings have narrowed the gap between the Dutch cyber agencies and private companies, said the report, drawing on responses from 13 stakeholders associated with the group. Companies participating in the initiative include ESET Netherland and Deloitte.
Petra Oldengarm, director of Cybersafe Netherlands said Project Mellissa has helped stakeholders “obtain a better overview” of threats posed to the country.
Stan Duijf, head of operations of the Netherlands Police said the success of the project has prompted the stakeholders to expand its scope to include trend identification and how to spot ransomware attacks at an early stage
“We now have a trusted network that is well attuned to each other and knows what we can benefit from each other,” Duijf added.
Despite the success of the initiative, some respondents told researchers the initiative’s restrictive legal framework pertaining to data disclosure can hinder critical information sharing.
The report also called for the inclusion of other cybersecurity experts for research purposes into the initiative, while keeping the focus limited to ransomware initiatives.
Original Post url: https://www.databreachtoday.com/dutch-counter-ransomware-initiative-led-to-global-takedowns-a-26994
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