UK is ‘widely underestimating’ risks from cyberattacks

Richard Horne, chief of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), has issued a warning about the escalating cyber threats facing the UK from state actors like Russia and China, as well as online criminals. In his inaugural speech, he highlighted a “widening gap” between the threats and the defences in place, saying: “What has struck me more forcefully . . . is the clearly widening gap between the exposure and threat we face.” The NCSC’s annual report revealed a threefold increase in serious cyber incidents in 2023/24, with 1,957 reports received, and 430 requiring support. Horne emphasised the need for improved resilience in critical infrastructure and warned that the severity of the risks is being “widely underestimated.” He also noted that the rise of artificial intelligence is transforming the cyber threat landscape, making it imperative for the UK to enhance its cyber defences.