The UK's chief cybersecurity officer warned that the number of cyber attacks faced by the UK could see an unprecedented increase in the coming months, and urged companies that ‘intentionally ignore these risks’ to face the consequences.
British National Cyber Security Center Director Richard Horne issued a stern warning to businesses in a speech on Tuesday. He stated that as threats from Russia, Iran, and China continue to increase, Britain is at a critical moment, akin to the crossroads depicted in the movie 'Sliding Doors'.
He said, “In the coming months, there is a real possibility that the number of cyber security incidents will increase unprecedentedly. Too many organizations and supply chains are based on weak technical and operational foundations.”
He said, “When there is no food on store shelves, when lights cannot be turned on, and when businesses close down one after another, we may have to explain why, despite seeing warning signs and understanding the risks involved, we still did not make the right choices. Why do we still deliberately turn a blind eye?”
As this warning comes forth, a series of highly concerning cyberattacks have occurred, and there is growing concern that artificial intelligence tools may exacerbate the battle between hackers and their targets. According to Horen, on Monday, supermarkets in several European countries were suspected of being targeted by cyberattacks, resulting in sudden changes in the temperature of refrigerators and freezers. A few British companies were also affected. Similar incidents occurred in France last month.
In his speech, Horen accused Russia of attempting to infiltrate British military networks "every day", and said that Iran is carrying out "malicious cyber operations" worldwide, including those targeting the UK.
This British cybersecurity official also accused China of posing the most serious challenge to Britain. He speculated that Beijing “is very likely to use artificial intelligence to target our key national infrastructure and other strategic objectives, and has the best conditions to carry out such actions.” He stated that China represents “the most complex and prolonged cybersecurity challenge that Britain faces.”
The Chinese Embassy in the UK has stated that China is one of the main victims of cyberattacks, and it consistently upholds the law to effectively stop and punish various forms of malicious online activities. Cybersecurity is a common challenge faced by all countries. Any politicization or stigmatization not only fails to solve problems but also weakens trust between nations and undermines global cooperation.
The Chinese side urges the British side to immediately correct their wrong practices, stop using China as a scapegoat, and stop manipulating politics through issues related to network security.
