Companies also will offer cyber tools and training after a private sector cybersecurity summit at the White House.

The administration expects to make "concrete announcements" about tackling root causes of cyberattacks, a senior official said.

The chats also showed how victims could negotiate successfully, and offered a window into the structure of a ransomware operation.

REvil has risen among ransomware gangs, some experts say, with standout audaciousness and even dramatic flair.

Vaccine passports might be clearing the runway for greater adoption of digital IDs. Privacy experts say there are still many unanswered questions.

The phishing campaign began in September and has targeted organizations in six countries in Europe and Asia, according to IBM.