Russian cyber hackers are targeting the UK’s critical infrastructure, the Government has warned.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden made the claim in a speech in Belfast as he announced new measures to support businesses “on the front line of our cyber defences”.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is to issue an official threat alert to critical businesses.

Emerging threat
Government officials say that businesses, like those running large energy and water supplies, act swiftly to protect themselves against an emerging cyber threat.

The NCSC, part of the intelligence agency GCHQ, claimed the groups are sympathetic to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and ideologically-motivated.

Speaking at the CyberUK conference in the Northern Irish capital, Dowden said: “Disclosing this threat is not something we do lightly.#

“But we believe it is necessary if we want these companies to understand the current risk they face, and take action to defend themselves and the country.”

Cyber activity
Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, said: “What we’ve seen in the last year is really significant cyber activity in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s conflict so we want to make sure people are prepared for the consequences of these groups taking an interest in more-widely than Ukraine.”

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