Richard Horne, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), warned on Wednesday that the United Kingdom is facing four consequential cyberattacks every week. He stated that hackers linked to foreign governments are now behind the majority of nationally significant cyberattacks targeting the country.
The highest-impact attacks are increasingly tied to governments rather than criminal gangs alone, with Russia, Iran, and China identified as key adversaries. Horne emphasized that nation states now account for the most significant incidents the NCSC handles.
Horne warned that if the UK becomes embroiled in a conflict, it could face hacktivist attacks at scale. The impact of such events could be similar to recent high-profile ransomware incidents.
In response to these threats, the government is urging tech firms to help build defenses powered by artificial intelligence. Horne stressed that British businesses must prepare for large-scale attacks as the country braces for a rise in cyber threats linked to hostile states.