Ransomware ban backers insist thugs must be cut off from payday

The article examines renewed calls to ban ransomware payments after Operation Cronos’ temporary disruption of LockBit, highlighting arguments that a ban could curb the ransomware economy if paired with government support for affected organizations. Experts weigh risks such as business collapse and critical infrastructure disruptions against potential long-term benefits, referencing historical precedents (e.g., Northern Ireland and Italy’s anti-kidnapping measures), nonbinding international commitments not to pay, and rising extortion averages, while noting that current takedowns offer only short-lived impact.