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The NCSC, under the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), has released a report warning that the likelihood of hostile actors adopting artificial intelligence technology is extremely high, and that in the future they will be able to carry out large-scale ransomware attacks and targeted social engineering fraud at lower cost and quickly discover and exploit vulnerabilities. NCSC Chief Executive Richard Horne said that new technologies are amplifying the basic security weaknesses that organizations have long neglected. The report mentions that some models from Google, Anthropic and OpenAI have already demonstrated the ability to discover software vulnerabilities and analyze code flaws. The UK government also announced investment plans at the same time, including 60 million pounds to build the first phase of the National Cyber Shield project, 70 million pounds to establish the National Exposure Surface and Real-Time Vulnerability Center (NERV), and the establishment in Manchester of an AI cybersecurity center of excellence operated by the NCSC.
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Nov 3
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UK NCSC Warns AI Will Amplify Cyber Threats to Legacy Systems
The NCSC, part of the UK's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), has released a report concluding that it is highly likely hostile actors will adopt artificial intelligence technology, enabling them to carry out large-scale ransomware attacks and targeted social engineering fraud at lower cost in the future and to quickly discover and exploit vulnerabilities. NCSC Chief Executive Richard Horne said new technologies are amplifying fundamental security weaknesses that organizations have long neglected. The report notes that some models from Google, Anthropic and OpenAI have already demonstrated the ability to find software vulnerabilities and analyze code flaws. The UK government also announced investment plans, including 60 million pounds for the first phase of the National Cyber Shield project, 70 million pounds to establish the National Exposure and Real-time Vulnerability Centre (NERV), and the creation of an AI cybersecurity centre of excellence in Manchester operated by the NCSC.
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The Guardian Technology
UK NCSC warns: AI malware likely to be used to attack critical infrastructure before 2028
The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said in its annual assessment that from now until 2028, AI-driven malware is "likely" to be used in ransomware attacks targeting the UK's critical national infrastructure. The NCSC said AI can help attackers reconnaissance targets, find weaknesses in IT networks and write malicious code, and warned that Russia and China will "routinize" the use of AI in cyberattacks. NCSC Chief Executive Richard Horne will warn in a speech that the number of cyber incidents may rise unprecedentedly in the coming months.