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The number of victims of cyber attacks is likely to rise along with a growing demand for so-called "hackers for hire", UK experts have warned. The National Center for Cyber Security, part of GCHQ, has released a new report warning that thousands of people are almost certainly already being attacked each year for the "irresponsible use of spyware." The proliferation of commercial cyber tools is expected to pose a greater threat to individuals and organizations around the world, it warns.
Our new assessment highlights that the threat will not only be greater, but also less predictable, as more hackers are tasked with attacking a broader range of targets.
The spread of spyware, hackers for hire and other cyber capabilities is already lowering the barrier to entry for state and non-state actors, the report says.
It highlights the purchase of intrusive software by more than 80 countries during the last decade.
Some states have almost certainly used this irresponsibly to target journalists, human rights activists, dissidents and political opponents, and foreign government officials, according to the report.
Jonathon Ellison, Director of Resilience and Future Technology at NCSC, said: “Over the next five years, the proliferation of cyber tools and services will have a profound impact on the threat landscape as more and more state and non-state actors gain capabilities and intelligence not previously available to them.
“Our new assessment underscores that the threat will not only become larger, but also less predictable, as more contract hackers are tasked with attacking a broader range of targets and products and exploit ready-made jobs that lower the barrier to entry for all.
"To maintain security in cyberspace, it is crucial that these capabilities are managed in a responsible, proportionate and legally sound approach and, by working with international partners, the UK is committed to meeting this growing challenge."
To combat the threat of proliferation, the report suggests that the business intrusion industry would benefit from a joint approach to international monitoring over the next five years.
His post comes as CyberUK 2023, the UK's flagship cybersecurity event, kicks off in Belfast on Wednesday.
A panel of experts will discuss the rise of commercially available spyware in a plenary session.
Speakers expected at the event include NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden.
PA files
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