Ransomware and privateering, counteroffense and deterrence. The US State Department will reestablish its cyber office. And looking forward to Halloween.

Notes on ransomware and privateering: Conti’s barking at its victims, someone’s exploiting billing software, and BlackMatter repeated some coding errors its DarkSide predecessor committed. GCHQ suggests that the UK will undertake a more assertive imposition of costs on cyber gangs. The US State Department will reestablish its cyber bureau. Software supply chain cyberespionage, and what can be done about it. Ben Yelin on school laptop privacy concerns. Our guest is David White of Axio to discuss Ransomware Preparedness. And some more scare-notes for Halloween. For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news briefing: https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/206 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices