The Justice Department is giving higher priority to investigations of ransomware attacks, on par with terrorism, after a series of major cyberattacks recently on critical sectors, including gas and meat production, elevated the problem.

Recent ransomware attacks by Russian hacking groups on the computer systems of the Colonial Pipeline gas operator and JBS, the biggest beef producer in the United States, among other entities, have forced the Justice Department to focus greater attention and resources on cyberattacks and roll out new initiatives, a senior Justice Department communications official confirmed to the Washington Examiner.