UK services have already been affected by ransomware attacks, such as the WannaCry virus that infected thousands of NHS computers in 2017.
It coincides with a recent National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) report that reveals artificial intelligence (AI) is reducing the entry barrier for inexperienced cybercriminals.
The GCHQ-affiliated NCSC has also issued a warning, stating that malevolent actors are utilizing AI to more effectively locate and identify targets, and that in the near future, the technology will almost definitely increase the frequency and severity of cyberattacks.
Ransomware has been deemed by the agency to be the largest cyberthreat to the United Kingdom.
“We must ensure that we both harness AI technology for its vast potential and manage its risks – including its implications on the cyber threat,” stated Lindy Cameron, chief executive of NCSC.
“The use of AI in cyberattacks is evolving rather than revolutionary; that is, while it improves already-existing threats like ransomware, it does not immediately change the risk environment.
“As the NCSC does all it can to ensure AI systems are secure by design, we urge organisations and individuals to follow our ransomware and cyber security hygiene advice to strengthen their defences and boost their resilience to cyber attacks.”
Ransomware is a type of cyberattack where malicious actors infiltrate a user’s system, either to steal or encrypt files, and then demand a ransom to unlock the files.
The 2017 WannaCry attack, which impacted computers worldwide and included automakers Nissan and Honda as well as numerous NHS trusts throughout England, was one of the biggest events to date.
The attack, which is thought to have come from North Korea, caused major service disruptions and resulted in the cancellation of thousands of appointments. An October 2018 report revealed that the NHS may have lost up to £100 million as a result of the hack and its aftermath.
