UK moves to ban public sector organizations from making ransom payments | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The British government announced plans to prohibit public sector organizations and critical infrastructure operators from paying ransoms to cybercriminals, marking a significant shift in the nation's approach to combating ransomware attacks.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/uk-ransomware-payment-ban-public-sector-private-business-reporting\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UK moves to ban public sector organizations from making ransom payments\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The British government announced plans to prohibit public sector organizations and critical infrastructure operators from paying ransoms to cybercriminals, marking a significant shift in the nation's approach to combating ransomware 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have to report to the government if they plan to pay off cybercriminals. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/85262\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments.jpg?resize=640%2C399&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg 1940w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=300,187 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=768,479 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=1024,638 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=1536,957 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=600,374 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=270,168 270w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=541,337 541w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=1083,675 1083w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-2.jpg?resize=1353,843 1353w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1083px) 100vw, 1083px\"><figcaption> (Photo by Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"27.12700729927\"><body readability=\"54.166724197446\"><\/p>\n<p>The British government announced plans to prohibit public sector organizations and critical infrastructure operators from paying ransoms to cybercriminals, marking a significant shift in the nation\u2019s approach to combating ransomware attacks that have disrupted essential services and cost the economy millions of pounds annually.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-to-lead-crackdown-on-cyber-criminals-with-ransomware-measures\">The proposed measures<\/a> would prevent the National Health Service, local councils, schools and other public bodies from making payments to criminal groups, while requiring private businesses to notify authorities before paying any ransom demands. The government said the restrictions aim to undermine the business model that drives ransomware operations.<\/p>\n<p>The measures also include plans for mandatory reporting requirements designed to provide law enforcement with intelligence to track perpetrators and disrupt their activities.<\/p>\n<p>Ransomware attacks have affected a broad range of British institutions, from <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/scattered-spider-arrests-uk-nca-marks-and-spencer\/\">major retailers<\/a> like Marks & Spencer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cp3ly4v2kp2o\">NHS hospitals<\/a> and cultural institutions including the British Library, which suffered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2024\/feb\/06\/hacker-british-library-cybersecurity-cybercrime-uk\">a devastating attack in October 2023<\/a> that destroyed its technology infrastructure. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The library continues to experience operational impacts more than a year after the initial breach. As a public body, it chose not to engage with attackers or pay the demanded ransom. The health service has faced particular scrutiny over ransomware incidents, with one NHS organization recently identifying such an attack as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.halcyon.ai\/blog\/uks-nhs-says-ransomware-contributed-to-patient-death\">a contributing factor in a patient\u2019s death<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis characterized ransomware as \u201ca predatory crime that puts the public at risk,\u201d while emphasizing the government\u2019s intention to \u201csmash the cyber criminal business model.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy working in partnership with industry to advance these measures, we are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware,\u201d he said in a release.<\/p>\n<p>The country\u2019s National Cyber Security Centre emphasized that the new measures complement rather than replace the need for robust defensive practices. Organizations are still expected to maintain offline backups, develop continuity plans and strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture using established frameworks.<\/p>\n<p>Implementation details and enforcement mechanisms for the proposed measures have not been fully detailed. The government indicated the new rules form part of a broader \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/missions\">Plan for Change<\/a>\u201d addressing cyber threats, suggesting additional announcements may follow as the policy framework develops.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The effectiveness of payment restrictions in deterring ransomware attacks remains a subject of debate among cybersecurity experts. Some argue that removing the profit motive will reduce criminal interest in targets, while others caution that attackers may simply shift tactics toward data theft and extortion rather than system encryption.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"4.3206831119545\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"14\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Greg Otto\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Greg Otto<\/h4>\n<p> Greg Otto is Editor-in-Chief of CyberScoop, overseeing all editorial content for the website. Greg has led cybersecurity coverage that has won various awards, including accolades from the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Prior to joining Scoop News Group, Greg worked for the Washington Business Journal, U.S. News & World Report and WTOP Radio. He has a degree in broadcast journalism from Temple University. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/uk-ransomware-payment-ban-public-sector-private-business-reporting\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK moves to ban public sector organizations from making ransom<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117,46,1,971],"tags":[119,54,325,973],"class_list":["post-7817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government","category-ransomware","category-uncategorized","category-united-kingdom-u-k","tag-government","tag-ransomware","tag-uncategorized","tag-united-kingdom-u-k"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/ransomware\/\" rel=\"category tag\">ransomware<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/uncategorized\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Uncategorized<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/united-kingdom-u-k\/\" rel=\"category tag\">United Kingdom (U.K.)<\/a>","tag_info":"United Kingdom (U.K.)","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7817\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":7817,"date":"2025-07-22T09:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T14:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=85262"},"modified":"2025-07-22T09:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T14:06:10","slug":"uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/07\/22\/uk-moves-to-ban-public-sector-organizations-from-making-ransom-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"UK moves to ban public sector organizations from making ransom payments"},"content":{"rendered":"