Russia is targeting UK's infrastructure and democracy, GCHQ head to say

Russia targets critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains, and public trust in the UK through cyber attacks and sabotage. GCHQ focuses on electronic intelligence to defend against cyber threats and counter reckless sabotage and assassination attempts while supporting western allies and Ukraine. During the Ukraine war, Russia has carried out sabotage and disruption campaigns against the UK and other allies, including firebombs placed in DHL parcels that ignited in Germany and Birmingham after traveling from the continent. The threat environment also includes frequent cybersecurity incidents, with China, Russia, and Iran behind most serious attacks. China’s capabilities across intelligence, cyber, and military areas are described as advanced, and growing artificial intelligence development is said to narrow the window for the UK and allies to stay ahead.

"Moscow is relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust in the UK. This requires GCHQ, which specialises in electronic intelligence, to fend off cyber-attacks and counter reckless sabotage and assassination attempts in its efforts to protect the UK and support western allies and Ukraine. During the Ukraine war, Russia has also targeted the UK and other allies with sabotage and disruption campaigns, she will say."

"In one instance, firebombs were placed in DHL parcels, with one catching light in Leipzig, Germany and a second at a warehouse in Birmingham, having travelled from the continent by plane. The language around China is notably more muted, despite several espionage scandals over the past year, reflecting broader government efforts to maintain a positive trade and economic relationship after a visit by the prime minister, Keir Starmer, in January."

"China is now a science and tech superpower with sophisticated capabilities across their intelligence, cyber and military agencies, Keast-Butler will say, and its growing development of artificial intelligence means there is a narrowing window for the UK and allies to stay ahead. Britain has to deal with four major cybersecurity incidents a week, with China, Russia and Iran behind most the serious attacks, according to figures issued last month by Richard Horne, the chief executive of the National Cyber"

Read at www.theguardian.com