UK invests to stop '˜rogue states' carrying out cyber-attacks

Chancellor Philip Hammond launches the Government's new National Cyber Security Strategy. Chris Radburn/PA Wire

The Chancellor warned that “rogue states” and other online threats were seeking to target the UK’s infrastructure such as power grids and air traffic control, as well as trying to carry out industrial espionage.

Launching the government’s new national cyber security strategy, Mr Hammond said investment in “offensive” capabilities would help deter other countries from targeting the UK.

Mr Hammond warned that failure to develop the UK’s ability to launch its own cyber-attacks would leave the country either not responding to any damaging online assault or having to resort to military action.

His comments came after MI5 director general Andrew Parker warned that Russia “is using its whole range of state organs and powers to push its foreign policy abroad in increasingly aggressive ways – involving propaganda, espionage, subversion and cyber-attacks”.

The Chancellor did not mention Russia by name during his speech in London, but he highlighted attacks on French broadcaster TV5 Monde and Ukraine’s power grid – both of which security experts have suggested were carried out by Moscow-backed hackers. Outlining the five-year strategy, supported by £1.9 billion of funding, the Chancellor said the UK needed a “fully functioning and operational cyber counter-attack capability”.

Mr Hammond said: “We will deter those who seek to steal from us, threaten us or otherwise harm our interests in cyberspace.

“We are strengthening our law enforcement capabilities to raise the cost and reduce the rewards of cyber criminality, ensuring we can track, apprehend and prosecute those who commit cyber crimes.

“And we will continue to invest in our offensive cyber capabilities because the ability to detect, trace and retaliate in kind is likely to be the best deterrent.”