Ministers consider ban on all UK public bodies making ransomware payments

Jamie MacColl, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security thinktank, described the proposals as the “most significant intervention” by a government against ransomware gangs. He said requiring the reporting of attacks and of any intention to pay could disrupt criminals. “The proposal to mandate reporting of ransomware incidents is sensible and will improve law enforcement’s ability to disrupt criminals,” he said. “By shining a light on organisations that pay, it may also cause some victims to think twice about paying a ransom.” He added, however, that a selective payment ban might not work because ransomware outfits tend to be opportunistic and are not discerning enough to avoid specific sectors.