The United Kingdom has launched a consultation to explore a nationwide ban preventing operators of critical national infrastructure from paying ransomware cybercriminals.
The proposed “targeted ban,” announced on January 14 by the Home Office, would apply to public sector bodies and critical sectors such as energy, healthcare, and local councils, expanding an existing restriction on government departments.
According to UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis, the proposal aims to safeguard national security by cutting off the financial resources ransomware groups rely on, with many attackers demanding cryptocurrency payments. Jarvis stated that the measures are designed to combat the growing ransomware threat, reducing the appeal of essential services as targets for cybercriminals.
The proposal also includes a regime to prevent ransomware payments by providing victims with advice and enabling the blocking of payments to known criminal groups and sanctioned entities. A mandatory reporting system for ransomware incidents is being considered to help law enforcement identify and target repeat offenders.
The consultation follows a series of high-profile cyberattacks that have disrupted critical services in the UK. In January 2023, a ransomware attack on Royal Mail halted international parcel and letter shipments, while an earlier breach of a health-service software provider exposed the personal data of nearly 83,000 individuals.
Jarvis cited the latest report from National Cyber Security Centre which claimed there was over 430 cyber incidents in the year ending August 2024, including 13 nationally significant attacks that severely impacted essential services and the economy.
Meanwhile, this announcement comes as the U.S. continues its crackdown on cybercriminal operations. A U.S. federal grand jury recently charged three Russian nationals—Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov—for their involvement in operating cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. These platforms were accused of enabling money laundering for cybercriminals, including ransomware attackers and state-sponsored hacking groups.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated that the mixers allowed users to obscure the origins of stolen cryptocurrency, posing threats to public safety and national security. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible described the services as a “safe haven” for criminals, facilitating virtual currency theft, ransomware activities, and wire fraud.
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