A global coalition of technology companies and law enforcement bodies is calling for "aggressive and urgent" action against ransomware.
Microsoft, Amazon, the FBI and the UK's National Crime Agency have joined the Ransomware Task Force (RTF) in giving governments nearly 50 recommendations.
Ransomware gangs are now routinely targeting schools and hospitals.
Hackers use malicious software to scramble and steal an organisation's computer data.
The RTF has submitted its report to President Biden's administration.
It argues that "more than just money is at stake" and says that, in just a few years, "ransomware has become a serious national security threat and public health and safety concern". pg
RTF co-chair Jen Ellis, from cyber-security company Rapid 7, says: "Citizens are being impacted by this every day. It's having a huge impact on the economy and the ability for ordinary people to access critical services.
"Not only that but, really distressingly, the funds that come in from paid ransoms fund other forms of organised crime, like human trafficking and child exploitation."
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre, also a member of the Ransomware Task Force says it handled more than three times as many ransomware incidents in 2020 than in the previous year.