The UK has seen a significant increase in major cyberattacks by criminals and hostile states over the last year, the
country’s cyber security agency said, following a spate of high-profile incidents targeting companies from Jaguar Land Rover to Marks & Spencer Group Plc.
Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of its signals intelligence agency GCHQ, said it had dealt with
429 cyber incidents in the 12 months to the end of August. It categorized nearly half of those as “nationally significant,” meaning it was responding to four such incidents a week.
Some 18 of the cases were classed by the NCSC as “highly sign
ficant,” having a “serious impact” on central government, essential services or the UK economy. It said that represented a 50% increase on the previous year.
The data, revealed by NCSC chief Richard Horne in a speech Tuesd
ay, suggests the cybersecurity threat to businesses in Britain goes well beyond the recent public cases.
“Over the past few weeks and months we have seen household names impacted by cyber incidents across all
sectors of the economy, from retail to manufacturing a
nd transport. And those are justthe incidents that have made the headlines,” Horne will say according to a press release by the NCSC.
‘Strategic Foreign Interference’
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In August, Jaguar Land Rover was hit by a major cyberattack that
led to the company shutting down manufacturing sites around the world. The disruption, which has likely cost the compa
ny hundreds of millions of dollars, has spread throughout its supply chain, threatening thousands of jobs.
In an unprecedented move, the UK government stepped in, agreeing to guarantee a £1.5 billion ($2 billion) emergency loan so the company can pay its suppliers.
A cyberattack on a key provider of airline check-in and boarding systems snarled travel at major European airports
including London’s Heathrow in September, forcing staff to process passengers manually and triggering delays and cancellations.
In April, hackers struck Marks and Spencer’s, costing the retai
ler an estimated £300 million. Meanwhile, the Co-op estimated a £206 million underlying margin impact from a cyberattack earlier in the year.
The UK government’s handing of national security issues is under scrutiny following the collapse of an espionage case
involving two men accused of spying for China. Horne previously named China as the dominant threat to cybersecurity in Britain.
On Monday, MI5, the UK’s domestic security service, warned politicians and their staff that they are being targe
ted by spies from China, Russia and Iran in efforts geared toward undermining British democracy.