AI Surge Expected to Fuel More Severe Cyberattacks in the UK, Says Minister
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is set to intensify both the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks targeting the UK, warned senior minister Pat McFadden on Wednesday.
In recent years, British businesses, public institutions, and government bodies have suffered a series of costly cyber incidents, resulting in tens of millions of pounds in damages and prolonged operational disruptions. Just in the past three weeks, major retailers including Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group, and Harrods have fallen victim to cyberattacks. Marks & Spencer is still unable to process online clothing orders, although the companies have not disclosed specific details of the breaches.
"We are declassifying an intelligence report today which confirms that AI will not only increase the number of cyberattacks, but also their impact and sophistication in the years ahead," said McFadden, who oversees the UK’s cybersecurity efforts as Cabinet Office Minister.
“Our security infrastructure must evolve at the same pace as our adversaries,” he emphasized.
Speaking at the CyberUK 2025 conference hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), McFadden revealed that the NCSC received nearly 2,000 cyberattack reports last year, of which 90 were classified as significant, and 12 were among the most severe, three times the number of high-severity attacks recorded the previous year.
He urged both the government and private sector to take these recent retail breaches as a serious warning.
“Cybersecurity isn't a luxury; it's an absolute necessity.”
McFadden also announced that a new national cybersecurity strategy will be released later this year. In addition, the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will empower the government to mandate stronger cyber defenses from regulated organizations.
It is widely believed that M&S and the Co-op were victims of ransomware attacks, where hackers encrypt a company's systems and demand payment for restoration.
NCSC CEO Richard Horne closed the event by calling for a future where paying ransoms is no longer acceptable, aiming to disrupt the attackers' business model entirely.
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