The UK is committing to work with international partners to dismantle the cyber-criminal ecosystem and take down illicit ransomware gangs, the country declared at the UN Security Council.

UN ambassador James Kariuki, the UK deputy permanent representative to the UN, address the security council regarding the rise in ransomware and the importance of combatting cyber-crime as a concerted, global effort.

“Ransomware actors have consistently attacked critical national infrastructure, local government, and hospitals for personal financial gain,” he told the council.

He said that most ransomware groups tend to operate and exists in “jurisdictions that allow them to operate with impunity,” calling on these states to “to more” to stop these criminal gangs.

Kariuki noted the ransomware incident that targeted the NHS in 2017, which was targeted by the Wannacry ransomware strain, costing the government $118m.

He also noted the Synnovis cyber-attack, in which a ransomware gang infiltrated the London hospitals provider, which delayed over 10,000 health appointments, and 1,700 medical procedures.

Citing this and its potential to impact the UK’s wider critical infrastructure, he noted “it is why the UK considers ransomware one of our most significant cyber-threats to national security.”

The UK is taking steps to mitigate the issue of ransomware attacks, but says that global collaboration is necessary to stop its surge.

Kariuki urged other countries to join the UK in not paying ransoms to gangs.

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“In October, the UK and 49 other members of the Counter Ransomware Initiative signed a public statement committing governments not to not pay ransoms,” he said.

He also said that “coordination will be our best defence,” explaining that UK law enforcement had led a global coalition to disrupt Lockbit, the most prolific ransomware group of 2024.

To increase resilience, Kariuki said that others must join the UK by sharing information to build cohesive understanding of cyber-threats.

“We will continue to cooperate with international partners and industry to counter ransomware and dismantle the cyber criminal ecosystem,” he concluded.