'A Call to Arms' as UK Faces 50% Surge in Major Cyberattacks

"Cyberattacks are on the rise in the UK, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK's technical authority for cybersecurity. In its Annual Review, published on Tuesday, the security agency states that the UK has experienced a 50% increase in "highly significant" cyberattacks over the past year. Officials attributed the surge to the UK's increasing dependence on digital systems and a sharp increase in ransomware activity targeting organisations for financial gain."

"Figures from the NCSC annual review revealed dramatic insights into the state of the UK's cybersecurity, including that it is experiencing the highest level of malicious digital activity recorded in nearly a decade, as the organization faces a new nationally significant cyber incident roughly every other day. More bad actors than Hollywood According to the report, the primary threats to security causing the 50% spike are state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia,"

"Significant incidents have hampered operations at major firms, including Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer, and the Co-op Group, and have even triggered delays at various European airports just last month. NCSC handled 429 cyber incidents from August 2024 to September 2025, nearly half of which were classified as nationally significant. This is more than double that of the prior year. Eighteen of the incidents were considered "highly significant", meaning they had a serious impact on the economy, the mass population, essential services, or the government."

The UK experienced a 50% increase in highly significant cyberattacks over the past year, driven by greater reliance on digital systems and a sharp rise in ransomware targeting organisations. The National Cyber Security Centre handled 429 cyber incidents from August 2024 to September 2025, nearly half classified as nationally significant and eighteen deemed highly significant because they impacted the economy, population, essential services, or government. The organization faced roughly one nationally significant incident every other day. Primary threats include state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, alongside Russia-inspired hacktivist groups. Major firms and European airports experienced operational disruption. The government urged organisations to strengthen cyber defenses and contingency planning.

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