Russia-linked hackers seek to ‘disrupt or destroy’ UK infrastructure

UK Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden has warned that Russia-aligned hackers are seeking to disrupt or destroy Britain's critical infrastructure.

In a speech at the CyberUK conference in Belfast, Dowden unveiled new measures to support businesses "on the front line of our cyber defences" and described the hackers as "Wagner-like," a reference to the Russian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine that have been repeatedly accused of war crimes.

The National Cyber Security...

19 April 2023 | Legislation & Government

Babcock awarded £400M contract to operate military satellites

Babcock and its partners have been awarded a £400 million contract to operate the Skynet military satellite communications system.

Skynet is the UK’s satellite system that enables communications to be sent from anywhere in the world back to the UK and its allies.

Defence Procurement Minister Alex Chalk KC said:

“Space is increasingly important for maintaining battlefield advantage.

The UK’s next-generation military satellite communications...

15 February 2023 | Legislation & Government

UK-Australia ‘network of liberty’ to combat malign cyber actors

The UK and Australia have agreed to develop a “network of liberty” to combat malign cyber actors.

Western alliances are being renewed in the face of increasing aggression from countries like Russia and China. Few alliances have as much history as the one between the UK and Australia.

“Britain and Australia share one of the oldest and strongest defence and security alliances,” said UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

“Operating and exercising side by...

21 January 2022 | Legislation & Government

UK’s National Cyber Force is unveiled after months of speculation

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has officially unveiled the National Cyber Force (NCF) after months of speculation about its existence.

On Thursday, PM Johnson pledged £24.1 billion for the military over the next four years to 

cement the UK’s position as the largest defence spender in Europe and the second-largest in NATO after the US.

“The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold...

20 November 2020 | Legislation & Government

Cybersecurity expert warns MPs that delaying 5G will harm Britain

A cybersecurity expert has warned that delaying the 5G rollout due to concerns about Chinese vendors poses a greater threat to Britain.

Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs, told a sub-committee examining the security of the UK’s 5G network:

“The risk to the country is, if we decide we are so unhappy with the idea of a high risk vendor being in our infrastructure – despite the fact that vendor has been in our infrastructure for the past 15 years – we are...

29 April 2020 | Legislation & Government