Why it matters:
In its annual report released on Tuesday, the NCSC — which operates under the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) — said British security agencies are now facing and countering highly sophisticated cyberattacks on a daily basis.
The center warned that all sectors across the country, from small businesses to major corporations, must be prepared for growing cyber risks, as critical technological infrastructure could be disrupted at any moment.
The big picture:
According to experts cited in the report, Britain’s increasing reliance on digital technology has left its society more exposed to cyber threats, particularly ransomware attacks launched by criminal groups seeking financial gain.
The report claimed that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are among the principal state-linked actors posing cyber threats to the United Kingdom — an allegation often repeated by Western security institutions without presenting verifiable evidence.
Key points:
- British ministers, including those responsible for the Treasury, Security, and Technology, have reportedly warned hundreds of corporate executives to take preventive measures against potential cyberattacks.
- According to The Guardian, the NCSC said it countered 429 cyber incidents last year, nearly half of which were classified as “nationally significant.” This figure is more than double the number recorded two years ago.
- The agency defined such “significant” incidents as those that impact the government, essential services, large segments of the population, or the national economy. It noted that many of the attacks targeted retail chains such as Marks & Spencer and Co-op, mainly through ransomware campaigns.
- The report attributed the rise in threats to the growing use of ransomware and the deepening dependence of British society on digital systems.
- The GCHQ — Britain’s electronic intelligence and surveillance agency — operates under the authority of the foreign secretary but functions independently from the Foreign Office. The agency became widely known in 2013 after former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden exposed its extensive online surveillance operations, including the “Tempora” program that collected Internet traffic and phone data across the country.
- Snowden’s revelations triggered global outrage over mass surveillance but ultimately led to the destruction of the leaked files after the British government threatened The Guardian with legal action.
Go deeper:
Cyber Threats Against UK Gov't Intensifies
Mojtaba Darabi - ahmad shirzadian
