Cyprus and 50 other countries in coalition to fight cyber-attacks on healthcare facilities

Cyprus, along with more than fifty countries, has expressed concerns about the increase in "Ransomware" malware attacks targeting critical infrastructure, particularly healthcare facilities, in a joint (US-inspired) statement.

The countries include Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Costa Rica, Greece, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Moldova, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vietnam, the United States and the EU.

These cyber-attacks have caused delays in care, disruption of surgeries and other serious disruptions and are considered threats not only to public safety but also to international peace and security.

The coalition of countries, the joint statement said, "is deeply concerned about the frequency, scale and severity of malicious Ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure, particularly hospitals and other healthcare facilities."

The coalition calls on all member states to work together to strengthen the cybersecurity of critical services, in line with the UN-backed Unified Framework for Responsible State Conduct in Cyberspace, which states that international law applies to cyber activities, especially in times of peace.

"The General Assembly has repeatedly endorsed consensus the UN Framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, which makes clear that international law applies in cyberspace," it stressed.

The joint statement, with which the EU is aligned, stresses the importance of holding states accountable for allowing Ransomware hackers to operate without repercussions. Through this collaborative approach and by supporting initiatives such as the International Ransomware Response, the Alliance reaffirms its commitment to fighting cybercrime and supporting other UN members to develop capabilities to address these growing cyber threats.

"We will continue our work to uphold the international framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace and address the Ransomware threat comprehensively by pursuing its actors and targeting the malicious software they use and its dissemination, countering the illicit finance activity that supports their activities securing critical infrastructure, providing technical assistance," the statement says.

(Source: CNA)