In a landmark move to disrupt the financial engine powering ransomware attacks, the United Kingdom is pushing forward with legislation that would ban ransom payments across the public sector and critical national infrastructure (CNI). This sweeping proposal covers everything from local councils and schools to healthcare providers like the NHS, aiming to make essential public services less attractive to cybercriminals.
The government is also introducing a mandatory ransomware incident reporting regime, requiring organizations to notify authorities within 72 hours of a suspected attack and submit a detailed report within 28 days. For private sector businesses, a new Ransomware Payment Prevention Regime would require prior government notification before any ransom can be paid — a measure designed to ensure sanctions compliance and transparency.
While ransomware groups increasingly target vulnerable and underfunded public services, the UK’s targeted ban seeks to remove the core incentive: money. The plan enjoys overwhelming support from the public sector and critical infrastructure organizations, though debate continues over exemptions for essential services and how to support victims during live incidents.
This episode breaks down what these legislative proposals mean, how they fit into the larger fight against ransomware, and why the timing couldn’t be more urgent. With ransomware attacks surging to record levels — fueled by leaked credentials, infostealers, and ransomware-as-a-service — the UK aims to shift the risk-reward calculus for threat actors.
We’ll also explore how attackers are adapting post-macro disablement, turning to container payloads and social engineering to gain access, and how nation-state groups from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are blending financial and political motives in their cyber operations.
As ransomware groups continue to evolve, the UK is trying to stay one step ahead — not just by catching criminals, but by cutting off their funding altogether.
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