ST. PETERSBURG. May 19 (Interfax) - The Russian Justice Ministry has proposed extending criminal liability for DDoS attacks, Deputy Justice Minister Vadim Fyodorov said.
"We propose criminalizing illegal interference with computer information via DDoS attacks," Fyodorov said at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum on Monday.
At present, criminal liability is imposed for "illegal access to computer information protected by law" and for "creating, using, and distributing malicious software."
Speaking at the forum, Fyodorov also addressed the increasing frequency of cashless settlements enabling scammers to immediately transfer money between accounts belonging to various individuals and withdraw stolen funds, which law enforcement agencies lack proper tools to counter.
"Considering this, it's planned to provide for a new measure to enforce the reversal of transactions with funds. It envisions that debit transactions used in criminal activities shall be suspended for ten days," Fyodorov said.
This should prevent scammers from withdrawing stolen funds, he said.
Fyodorov also addressed the problem of digital currency's seizure and actual confiscation, saying that this asset is appealing to criminals due to its anonymity and lack of centralized control. In particular, digital currency cannot be seized physically, unlike cash and tangible valuables, he said.
"The Justice Ministry has drawn up a bill listing digital currency among property that may be subject to seizure and subsequent confiscation. At the same time, special requirements have been proposed to ensure its safekeeping," he said.
The ministry plans to engage specialists to determine measures required to ensure the safekeeping of digital currency for its subsequent confiscation or for meeting claims by injured parties, he said.
The St. Petersburg International Legal Forum is being held on May 19-21.