The US State Department is offering substantial rewards for individuals with technological skills to combat cybercrime in Montenegro which is struggling with digital security, despite being a NATO member, Faktor.ba reports.
US embassy billboards in Montenegro promise up to $10 million for info on Montenegro cyber attacks targeting US interests. They seek data on ransomware assaults, election interference, and “malicious cyber activities” against American infrastructure. Montenegro, a NATO member since 2017, has seen recent cyber attacks on government services.
Billboards in Montenegrin and Russian target “technologically skilled individuals” in Montenegro with knowledge about the attacks, as told to Radio Free Europe (RFE) by the embassy.
The initiative is part of the “Rewards for Justice” program by the State Department since 1984, focused on protecting Americans and national security. It rewards info on terrorism, foreign interference in US elections, malicious cyber activities against the US, and support for North Korea.
A report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) categorized Montenegro’s “digital maturity” as “basic” last year, recommending cybersecurity standards for all digital service providers. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts global cybercrime costs will rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025 from $3 trillion in 2015.
