4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Dave Burke)
Russia is set to unleash a wave of cyber attacks on the UK that could "turn out the lights for millions", a Cabinet minister will warn. Pat McFadden will tell a Nato conference on Monday that there's an imminent risk that Vladimir Putin-backed hackers could "shut down the power grids". He will tell the bloc's security chiefs that Russia is "exceptionally aggressive and reckless in the cyber realm" and should not be underestimated.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - who is responsible for national security policy - will say: "The threat is real." He urged businesses to ramp up protections against hackers. It comes as tensions escalate following Ukraine's use of British long-range missiles into Russian territory - a move the Kremlin says has dragged the UK into the conflict.
Putin last week said he now has the "right" to target the military facilities of Ukraine's backers. Mr McFadden will tell delegates in London that Putin is set to carry out a wave of cyber attacks on the British state and businesses. The Cabinet member is expected to state: "In the UK, Russia has targeted our media, our telecoms, our political and democratic institutions and our energy infrastructure.
"Military hard power is one thing. But cyber war can be destabilising and debilitating. With a cyber attack, Russia can turn the lights off for millions of people.
It can shut down the power grids. This is the hidden war Russia is waging with Ukraine ." And in a chilling message to Nato chiefs he will say: "Given the scale of that hostility, my message to members today is clear: no-one should underestimate the Russian cyber threat to Nato.
The threat is real. Russia is exceptionally aggressive and reckless in the cyber realm." Mr McFadden is expected to specifically call out Unit 29155 - a Russian military unit that the Government says is behind a number of attacks in the UK and Europe.
He will also say "unofficial hacktivists" and mercenaries not directly under the Kremlin's control are allowed to work with impunity. He will add: "Russia won't think twice about targeting British businesses in pursuit of its malign goals. It is happy to exploit any gap in our cyber or physical defences," he will add.
"It means making sure that businesses and other civilian organisations are doing everything they can to lock their own digital doors. Their security is our security." The warning was echoed by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on Sunday morning.
She said ministers are "really focussed" on making sure the UK is protected, saying: "There is a threat from Russia, there's hidden warfare as well as the open military aggression. ".
