The UK is unprepared for a major ransomware attack and could face an outage “at any time”, according to a new report.
Parliament’s Joint Committee on National Security Strategy (JCNSS) has been accused in a report of shifting responsibility for tackling ransomware attacks away from the Home Office, which is politically prioritizing other issues. He said it should be given to the Cabinet Office and directly supervised by the deputy prime minister. Minister.
The report claimed that former Home Secretary Suela Braverman “showed no interest” in the issue and instead focused on illegal immigration and small vessels.
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Ransomware is a cyber attack in which a hacker infiltrates your system, locks access to your data and files, and demands payment to release the files or prevent the leak.
It has been used in many high-profile cyberattacks, including: Want to cry Attacks on the NHS in 2017.
In a report, JCNSS said the UK’s regulatory framework is inadequate and outdated, warning that much of the country’s critical infrastructure relies on legacy IT systems and remains vulnerable to ransomware. ing.
The report notes that even though government agencies such as the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) have warned of ransomware attacks from groups linked to Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang, among others, there are They say they are not investing enough in safety measures.
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As part of its report, the commission has requested a private briefing from the NCSC on its preparations to protect the UK from cyber-attacks ahead of the next general election, citing concerns about potential interference with the democratic process. did.
Dame Margaret Beckett, Chair of JCNSS, said: ‘The UK has the dubious distinction of being one of the most cyber-attacked countries in the world.
“It is clear to the committee that government investment and response to this threat is not the best in the world, leaving us exposed to devastating costs and destabilizing political interference.
“When a large-scale, devastating ransomware attack is likely to occur, failure to meet this challenge rightly qualifies as an inexcusable strategic failure.
“If the UK is to avoid having its wealth held hostage, ransomware will become a more pressing political priority and more resources will be committed to tackling this pernicious threat to UK national security.” That is extremely important.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We welcome the JCNSS report and will publish a full response in due course.”
“The UK is well prepared to respond to cyber threats, including investing £2.6 billion under our Cyber Security Strategy and rolling out the first ever government-backed minimum standards for cyber security through the NCSC’s Cyber Essentials. The scheme is taking strong steps to strengthen its cyber defences.
“We also sanctioned 18 criminals who spread large quantities of ransomware this year, removed malware that infected 700,000 computers, and condemned the unprecedented ransom payments signed by 46 countries. He became a leader in international statements.”
A government spokesperson said: “We welcome the JCNSS report and will publish a full response in due course.”
“The UK is well prepared to respond to cyber threats, including investing £2.6 billion under our Cyber Security Strategy and rolling out the first ever government-backed minimum standards for cyber security through the NCSC’s Cyber Essentials. The scheme is taking strong steps to strengthen its cyber defences.
“We also sanctioned 18 criminals who spread large amounts of ransomware this year, removed malware that infected 700,000 computers, and condemned the unprecedented ransom payments signed by 46 countries. He became a leader in international statements.”
Source: news.sky.com
