UK cyber chief says hostile states are behind most attacks on critical systems
The head of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, Dr Richard Horne, said hostile states are linked to roughly three-quarters of cyber attacks affecting the UK's critical systems. He made the claim at the Royal United Services Institute's Annual Security Lecture on 3 November 2026. The NCSC is the government body that advises on and responds to cyber threats in the UK.
This summary was generated by AI; the official source prevails.
What does it mean?
The UK's top cyber security official says that when attacks hit the systems the country relies on most, such as power, water, or transport, foreign governments are usually behind them. This is a warning about who is behind the threat, not a new rule that changes anything for ordinary people.
Who is affected?
Operators of UK critical infrastructure and the organisations that defend those systems.