The UN and around fifty countries united on Friday to denounce the increase in ransomware attacks targeting hospitals, warning of serious consequences for public and international security.
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These cyberattacks are considered direct threats to human lives.Keystone
The UN and around fifty states sounded the alarm on Friday against the proliferation of ransomware attacks against hospitals, worrying about the risks for patients but also international peace, a position contested by Moscow.
Ransomware, or “ransomware,” is a form of digital blackmail in which hackers encrypt the data of victims (individuals, businesses or institutions) and then demand money to put things back to normal.
When it affects hospitals:
“it can be a matter of life and death”
the head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
“Investigations have shown that these attacks on the healthcare sector have increased in both scale and frequency.”
These hacks represent “a serious risk to international security,” he added, calling on the Council to consider them as such.
“These attacks are a direct threat to public security, endanger human lives… and may pose a threat to international peace and security.”
This is what around fifty states (including South Korea, Ukraine, Japan, Argentina, France, Germany, United Kingdom) added in a joint declaration read to the press by Anne Neuberger, deputy security advisor. national of the United States.
They also called on States not to “knowingly” allow those responsible for these attacks to operate from their territory, without naming anyone.
During the Council meeting, Anne Neuberger directly blamed Moscow:
“certain states, most notably Russia, continue to allow ransomware actors to operate from their territory with complete impunity.”
As for France and South Korea, they pointed the finger at Pyongyang.
“We know that ransomware attacks can help finance the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”
L’ambassadeur français adjoint Jay Dharmadhikari
This refers to the latest report from UN experts monitoring sanctions against North Korea.
Experts cite information according to which the country finances part of its arms programs via its “malicious cyber activities”.
Russia reiterated that the Council was not the place to discuss cybercrime.
If Westerners are concerned about the security of health infrastructure, why not start by taking “specific measures to stop Israel’s horrific attacks on hospitals in Gaza,” said Ambassador Vassili Nebenzia.
“Diverting the Security Council’s attention to the virtual world seems counterproductive, even cynical”
(dal/ats)
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