UK Infrastructure and Communications Are Under Constant Threat Because of Hackers

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary William Hague claims that the country’s most valuable computer systems are constantly targeted by cybercriminals. Critical infrastructure, communications, and trade secrets are under constant threat because of spies and hackers.

Hague told The Daily Telegraph that protecting government agencies and private companies from this threat is one of the greatest challenges these days.

He highlighted the fact that these issues must be dealt with if the UK wants to remain one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to cyber security.

The attacks have the potential to affect not only national security, but also economic competitiveness because the intellectual property and other sensitive information stored on the networks of businesses and government departments is highly valuable to cybercriminals and state actors.

According to the Foreign Office, cybercriminals have an advantage because they can purchase malicious software which they can use to steal the details of Internet users for fairly low amounts of money.

However, that’s not the main concern. Recently, experts have warned that entire transport and communication systems can be disrupted if the attackers start focusing their efforts on satellites.

Statistically speaking, 80% of cyberattacks can be prevented if the proper safety mechanisms are set in place but, in reality, many of them are successful because organizations are not doing the best they can to protect their networks.

The UK government is actively encouraging companies to take a stand against attacks from cyberspace, but as studies have demonstrated, many of them are overly confident in their protection mechanisms, so they fail to see the threat as seriously as they should.

The Intelligence and Security Committee’s representatives say that the country should declare cyber war against those who aggressively attack its infrastructures. Furthermore, the committee also encourages the use of malware such as Stuxnet against enemy states.