UK Cracks Down on Ransomware: Public Sector Banned from Paying Hackers

The UK government is introducing sweeping new measures to combat the growing threat of ransomware attacks.

Under the proposed laws, public sector organizations and operators of critical national infrastructure, such as the NHS, local councils, and schools, will be banned from paying ransoms to cybercriminals. Businesses will also be required to notify authorities before making any ransom payments. The government aims to disrupt the business model of cybercriminals and better protect essential public services.

These moves follow a surge in high-profile cyberattacks and have received strong support from industry and security experts.