Cyber community split on banning ransomware payments

TLDR: New call to ban ransomware payments divides cybersecurity sector

Key points:

• A former British security chief, Ciaran Martin, calls for a ban on ransomware payments to combat the surge in attacks.
• Industry experts are divided on the effectiveness of banning ransomware payments.

In the article “New call to ban ransomware payments divides cybersecurity experts,” the author discusses the growing demand to outlaw ransomware payments due to an alarming surge in attacks. Ciaran Martin, the former CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, emphasizes the need for urgent action to ban ransom payments, citing ransomware as the most damaging cyber threat to businesses. However, opinions within the cybersecurity sector are divided on the effectiveness of implementing such a ban.

While some, like cybersecurity advisor Jake Moore, believe that a ban on ransomware payments could lead to more problems, others, such as cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, argue that a blanket ban is necessary to combat the increasing volumes of ransomware attacks. Threat analyst Brett Callow and security researcher Kevin Beaumont also support the call for a ban, highlighting the need for firm leadership in addressing the issue.

Overall, the article sheds light on the ongoing debate within the cybersecurity sector regarding the effectiveness of banning ransomware payments as a solution to mitigate the threat of cyber attacks. As ransomware continues to pose a significant risk to businesses, finding a consensus on how to address this issue remains a challenge.