NCSC Warns AI Malware Likely to Hit UK Infrastructure by 2028 as Russia, China Ramp Up
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Nov 3
NCSC Warns AI Malware Likely to Hit UK Infrastructure by 2028 as Russia, China Ramp Up
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Nov 3
Summary
AI-powered malware is highly likely to be used in a ransomware attack on UK critical national infrastructure by 2028, the National Cyber Security Centre said in its annual review.
Ransomware risk is rising because AI can scout targets, find network weaknesses and write malicious code faster, with NCSC chief Richard Horne warning of an unprecedented increase in cyber incidents in coming months.
UK critical infrastructure spans power, airports, hospitals, finance and food systems, and Horne said British military communications networks already face persistent daily attacks that Russia has kept below the threshold of warfare.
Recent hacks that pushed European supermarket fridge temperatures above 50C were cited as a warning that companies can no longer rely on "tech on the cheap" and must invest in cyber resilience.
The alert follows the government's recent Be Ready campaign urging households to store 9 litres of water and three days of food for emergencies including cyberattacks.