Earlier this week, the United States Conference of Mayors took a united stance “against paying ransoms in the event of an IT security breach.” A nonbinding resolution unanimously adopted by the organization states that “paying ransomware attackers encourages continued attacks on other government systems, as perpetrators financially benefit.”

The Conference of Mayors, which includes 1,400 mayors from US cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants, says that since 2013, ransomware attacks have targeted at least 170 local governments (counties, cities and states), with 22 of these attacks taking place in 2019.

Read more: US mayors group adopts resolution not to pay any more ransoms to hackers