Sat Nov 09 11:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Ransomware Attacks on Hospitals Raise Global Alarm, US Blames Russia
**United Nations, November 9, 2024** – The World Health Organization (WHO) and over 50 countries have issued a joint warning about the alarming rise of ransomware attacks targeting hospitals. The United States, in particular, has accused Russia of harboring these cybercriminals.
Ransomware attacks, a form of digital extortion, involve hackers encrypting a victim’s data and demanding payment for its release. In the case of hospitals, these attacks can have devastating consequences, potentially leading to life-or-death situations due to disruptions in critical healthcare services.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the UN Security Council, highlighting the growing scale and frequency of these attacks on the healthcare sector. He stressed the need for international cooperation to combat this threat, calling cybercrime, including ransomware, a serious security concern.
The joint statement, signed by numerous countries including South Korea, Ukraine, Japan, Argentina, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, echoed the WHO’s concerns. It condemned nations that allow ransomware perpetrators to operate within their borders, citing the direct threat to public safety and international peace and security.
US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger explicitly accused Russia of allowing ransomware actors to operate with impunity. France and South Korea also pointed fingers at North Korea.
However, Russia rejected the accusations, arguing that the Security Council was not the appropriate platform for discussing cybercrime. Instead, they called for a focus on alleged attacks by Israel on hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
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