London: Cyber-attacks have risen by 50 percent in the United Kingdom over the past year, according to figures released by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
The agency has revealed that a new nationally significant attack is now being handled more than every other day, marking the highest level of cyber threat activity in nine years. The NCSC, which operates under GCHQ, has stated that the surge is being driven mainly by ransomware attacks and the growing dependence on digital technology, which has expanded the number of vulnerable targets.
Security officials and ministers have described the situation as a ‘call to arms’, urging all organisations, from small businesses to major employers, to prepare contingency plans for the possibility of a complete IT failure. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Security Minister Dan Jarvis, and Secretaries Liz Kendall and Peter Kyle have written to hundreds of large companies, warning that cyber activity has become ‘more intense, frequent and sophisticated.’
NCSC data shows that the agency dealt with 429 cyber incidents in the year to September, nearly half of which were classed as of national significance, more than double the number from the previous year. Of these, 18 incidents were considered highly significant, causing serious impact on the government, essential services, or the wider economy. Notable ransomware cases included attacks on Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group.
The NCSC declined to comment on reports that Russia may have been involved in the recent attack on Jaguar Land Rover, which temporarily halted manufacturing operations. It noted, however, that Russia continues to inspire informal ‘hacktivists’ who are targeting the UK, the United States, and NATO countries.
The report also warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by hackers to enhance their capabilities. While the NCSC has not yet encountered an AI-initiated attack, it expects AI-driven cyber threats to pose serious challenges by 2027 and beyond.
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