UK Launches Sweeping Ban on Ransomware Payments to Crush Cybercrime

The UK government is introducing some of the world's strictest measures against ransomware, banning public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure from paying ransoms to cybercriminals.

The new laws will also require businesses to notify authorities before making any ransom payments, aiming to disrupt the business model of cyber gangs. These steps come after a surge in high-profile attacks on British institutions, including hospitals and retailers. Officials hope the ban will deter hackers by removing the financial incentive and strengthen national cybersecurity.

The move has received strong support from industry and is seen as a major shift in the UK's approach to combating cyber threats.