{"id":611256,"date":"2024-03-04T19:15:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T16:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/new-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-sector\/"},"modified":"2024-03-04T19:15:45","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T16:15:45","slug":"new-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/new-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"#New call to ban ransomware payments divides cybersecurity sector"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a357eb9d9ab2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a357eb9d9ab2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/new-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-sector\/#The_case_against_a_ban_on_ransomware_payments\" >The case against a ban on ransomware payments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/new-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-sector\/#The_case_for_a_ban\" >The case for a ban<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image?fit=796%2C417&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2024%2F03%2FUntitled-design-3.jpg&amp;signature=dca63b6c9816d20a100bc80fbd6133ed\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            A former British security chief has reignited the perennial ransomware question: to pay or not to pay?<\/p>\n<p>Ciaran Martin, who was the first-ever CEO of the UK\u2019s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), answered emphatically in the negative. Yet Martin doesn\u2019t only advise victims to hold onto their cash. He also wants to ban them from handing over the ransom.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/ban-ransomware-payments-hackers-ciaran-martin-cybersecurity-gk3jh2vk0\">Writing<\/a> in today\u2019s London Times, Martin called the intervention an \u201curgent task.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRansomware is by far the most damaging cyber threat to most businesses right now,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cWe have to find a way of making a ransom payments ban work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a proposal that\u2019s regularly made, but rarely in such pressing circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>In recent months, ransomware attacks have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thalesgroup.com\/en\/worldwide\/security\/press_release\/2023-thales-data-threat-report-reveals-increase-ransomware-attacks\">again surged<\/a> in scope and complexity. A record sum of <span>$1bn (\u20ac922mn) in cryptocurrency payments was extorted from victims last year, according to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chainalysis.com\/blog\/ransomware-2024\/\">a report<\/a> by Chainalysis. <\/span><span>Britain\u2019s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) also fears that AI will exacerbate the damage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>But is a ban the best solution? Opinions are divided.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_case_against_a_ban_on_ransomware_payments\"><\/span>The case against a ban on ransomware payments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To mitigate the threat, governments advise victims not to pay the ransom. They also <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/committees.parliament.uk\/committee\/111\/national-security-strategy-joint-committee\/news\/198995\/a-hostage-to-fortune-ransomware-and-uk-national-security\/\">recognise<\/a>, however, that it can be the only viable option to keep businesses afloat and prevent devastating data leaks. As a result, politicians remain reluctant to prohibit the payments.<\/p>\n<p>Industry insiders have raised similar concerns. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jakemooreuk\/\">Jake Moore,<\/a> Global Cybersecurity Advisor at Slovakian firm ESET<span>, warns a ban will create more problems than it solves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the law is directing only one way, then companies can easily fold and the potential of livelihoods lost can make this a damming and forced decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>A ban could also lead victims to pay ransoms illegally. Consequently, they could face problems with not only hackers but also the government. Breaking the law would also create a new target for blackmail.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough prevention is better than cure, there are still multiple cases where the only option has been to pay,\u201d Moore said<\/p>\n<p>Moore\u2019s view is common in the sector. But not everyone shares his perspective<span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_case_for_a_ban\"><\/span>The case for a ban<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A small but growing number of cybersecurity firms endorse the call for a ban.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Among the supporters is cybersecurity specialist anti-virus firm Emsisoft. In a recent <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emsisoft.com\/en\/blog\/44987\/the-state-of-ransomware-in-the-u-s-report-and-statistics-2023\/\">blogpost<\/a>, the company said government task forces, international coalitions, and law enforcement interventions have failed to tackle the problem. A blanket ban, Emsisoft argues, is the only way to quickly reduce ransomware volumes.<\/p>\n<p><span>Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the firm, calls the alternatives<\/span> \u201clittle more than building speed bumps and whacking moles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor as long as ransomware payments remain lawful, cybercriminals will do whatever it takes to collect them,\u201d he <span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emsisoft.com\/en\/blog\/44987\/the-state-of-ransomware-in-the-u-s-report-and-statistics-2023\/\">said<\/a>.<\/span> \u201cThe only solution is to financially disincentivise attacks by completely prohibiting the payment of demands. At this point, a ban is the only <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach that is likely to work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span>Kevin Beaumont, a security researcher based in the UK, echoes the sentiment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis one needs firm leadership from the very top, as the lobbying against will be real,\u201d Beaumont wrote in a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/doublepulsar.com\/what-it-means-citrixbleed-ransom-group-woes-grow-as-over-60-credit-unions-hospitals-47766a091d4f\">December blogpost<\/a>. \u201cCivil society needs protection via firm leadership, not leadership by a small number of firms profiting from the status quo. This is a chance for world leaders to lead when others haven\u2019t.\u201d\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/fresh-call-to-ban-ransomware-payments-divides-cybersecurity-experts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former British security chief has reignited the perennial ransomware question: to pay or not to pay? Ciaran Martin, who was the first-ever CEO of the UK\u2019s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), answered emphatically in the negative. Yet Martin doesn\u2019t only advise victims to hold onto their cash. He also wants to ban them from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":611257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/03\/Untitled-design-3.jpg&signature=0f74f48ecdeb3840d5999b772d3e944c","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-611256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=611256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/611257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=611256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=611256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=611256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}