Criminal gangs could launch cyber attacks on the UK with the tacit approval of Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
Criminal gangs operating with the blessing of Vladimir Putin could wreak havoc in the UK by attacking “critical national infrastructure”, a security consultant has warned. And operatives backed by Iran and North Korea also pose a threat, claimed Martin Riley, director of managed security services at Bridewell.
Mr Riley was speaking after Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden sounded the alarm in a speech on December 7 in which he warned of the risk posed by “sophisticated” cyber crooks. Possible targets included public finances, roads and railways, schools, the NHS, the Armed Forces and even “the heart of central government itself”, said Mr Dowden.
Mr Riley told Express.co.uk: “The Deputy Prime Minister is right to be very concerned about the threat posed to our critical national infrastructure by ransomware gangs operating with the tacit approval of Russia, Iran and North Korea. Any ransomware attack on critical services or infrastructure could have a devastating impact, threatening public safety and even inflicting loss of life if systems crash without warning or services such as health are totally disrupted."
During his speech, Mr Dowden highlighted the shortage of cyber skills in this country and around the globe, Mr Riley pointed out.
He continued: “The human factor is critical in all so it is important for those in charge of the utilities, NHS, communications, transport systems and every kind of government organisation from local councils to the Cabinet Office to invest in cyber security and place real emphasis on best practice at all levels and pay grades.”
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Bridewell’s own research shows nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of government, transport and aviation, finance, utilities, and communications organisations experienced cuts in their cyber defence budgets in 2022-23, Mr Martin explained.
He said: “Let’s hope this is put right soon. These organisations need to invest smartly, putting money into tools and technology that support cyber resilience, shifting from a reactive stance to being up on the front foot against the threats we face.
“All these organisations need a strong understanding of the specific risks they face in the immediate term. At the same time, they must take a longer-term strategic view of their organisation. It is more important than ever for organisations to allocate their resources wisely.”
Bridewell’s own research also showed that between 2022 and 2023, the average number of attacks suffered by the organisations in the UK’s critical national infrastructure went up by 62 percent, with groups in China also a significant source of threats, Mr Riley emphasised.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden (Image: Getty)
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He added: “Ransomware was once a relatively opportunistic method of extortion, relying on human mistakes, unpatched vulnerabilities or vulnerable services. However, these attacks have become more sophisticated and use multiple methods of entry and target our national infrastructure.
“This is part of the growing professionalisation of cyber crime as gangs become more specialised, selling their services to one another. Increasingly they use AI to help them write malicious code and to conduct their attacks. Their methods include human-operated ransomware whereby criminals infiltrate organisations for extended periods before launching devastating attacks on data, systems and entire business supply chains.”
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A report published earlier this month suggested the UK is unprepared for a large-scale ransomware attack that could occur "at any moment" and bring the nation to a standstill unless major changes to planning and preparation are made. Parliament's Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) said responsibility for tackling ransomware attacks should be taken off the Home Office, given to the Cabinet Office and overseen directly by Mr Dowden himself.
Dame Margaret Beckett, chairwoman of the JCNSS, said: "The UK has the dubious distinction of being one of the world's most cyber-attacked nations. It is clear to the committee that the Government's investment in and response to this threat are not equally world-beating, leaving us exposed to catastrophic costs and destabilising political interference.
"In the likely event of a massive, catastrophic ransomware attack, the failure to rise to meet this challenge will rightly be seen as an inexcusable strategic failure. If the UK is to avoid being held hostage to fortune, it is vital that ransomware becomes a more pressing political priority, and that more resources are devoted to tackling this pernicious threat to the UK's national security."
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