| US to Send $25 Million to Costa Rica for Cyber Attack Restoration |
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| Continuing its efforts to boost international cooperation in the fight against cybercrime, the US has announced that it will send $25 million to the Costa Rica government to restore its systems following a destructive cyberattack by the Continuity (Conti) group in 2022. The funding, requested by the President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chavez, will be used to ensure the security of the country’s networks and protect its critical infrastructure. |
| The attack took place in May 2022 and led to a state of emergency being declared by the newly elected Costa Rican President. The Conti group caused serious damage to the country’s critical services by violating the work of financial, telecommunication, and social institutions before demanding a ransom of $20 million and calling for the overthrow of the government. |
| The attack originated on April 18, 2022, from the Ministry of Finance in Costa Rica and eventually affected 27 different institutions as a result of a series of interconnected attacks that unfolded over several weeks. |
| The $25 million in funding will be directed towards the creation of a cybersecurity center at Costa Rica’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technologies and Communications, which will be responsible for preventing, detecting and responding to cyberattacks. |
| The center will also coordinate efforts to ensure cybersecurity in all departments and agencies in Costa Rica. The funds will be used to support strategic and technical planning, training for cybersecurity officers, potential building improvements, equipment, software, licenses, and tools. |
| Representatives from the Joe Biden administration plan to meet with President Chavez soon to discuss the grant and wider measures to ensure the safety of Costa Rica’s digital infrastructure. |
/Reports, release notes, official announcements.