UK Faces Escalating Cyber Threats from Russia, China, and Criminal Groups

The National Cyber Security Centre warns of a widening gap between the UK's cyber risks and its defenses, with critical infrastructure increasingly targeted.

The NCSC's annual review reports a threefold increase in the most severe cyber incidents affecting the UK over the past year, with 12 classified as 'national cyber emergencies.'
State-backed hackers from Russia and China, alongside independent cybercriminal groups, are exploiting the UK's dependence on technology to cause disruption and data theft.
Ransomware attacks remain a significant threat, accounting for the majority of data exfiltration and extortion cases handled by the NCSC in 2023-24.
The NCSC highlights the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence and insecure supply chains, which are enabling both state and non-state actors to launch more sophisticated attacks.
The UK government and private sector are urged to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures, as current efforts are considered insufficient to keep pace with evolving threats.