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

The UK government is introducing sweeping new measures to combat ransomware attacks by banning public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure from paying ransoms to cybercriminals.

The new rules will also require businesses to notify authorities before making any ransom payments, aiming to disrupt the business model of cyber gangs. These changes come after a surge in high-profile cyberattacks on British institutions, including hospitals and retailers. The government hopes the ban will deter future attacks and strengthen national cybersecurity, though some experts question whether attackers may retaliate or find ways around the rules.

The proposals have received strong public and industry support, with mandatory incident reporting also set to be enforced.