AI-powered malware ‘highly likely’ to be used to hack UK infrastructure by 2028 - AOL.com
AI-powered malicious software is 'highly likely' to be used in hacking attacks against the UK's critical national infrastructure by 2028, according to the National Cyber Security Centre.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the GCHQ spy agency, has issued a stark warning that AI-powered malware will likely be deployed in ransomware attacks against the UK's critical national infrastructure within the next two years. The UK's definition of CNI encompasses facilities across energy, transport, defence, food, health and finance sectors.
State actors embrace AI
The NCSC's annual review reveals that Russia and China will begin using AI 'routinely' in cyber-attacks. This development represents a significant escalation in digital warfare capabilities, with state-sponsored actors increasingly leveraging advanced technologies to target vulnerable systems.
It is … highly likely that between now and 2028, AI-powered malware will have been used in a ransomware attack on UK CNI
Enhanced ransomware threat
Ransomware has become a cornerstone of criminal hackers' operations, particularly those based in former Soviet Union states. These attackers infiltrate IT systems, encrypt files with bespoke malware, and demand cryptocurrency payments for system restoration. Recent UK victims include Royal Mail, outsourcing firm Capita, and various public bodies.
AI is set to amplify this threat by assisting attackers with target scouting, identifying network vulnerabilities, and writing malicious code more efficiently than ever before.
Government response
Last month, the government launched the Be Ready campaign, urging Britons to stockpile nine litres of bottled water and three days' worth of food to prepare for weather, cyber or other serious emergencies. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the need to prepare for 'state-sponsored terrorism' targeting everyday infrastructure.
NCSC chief executive Richard Horne will warn in an accompanying speech that AI is about to unleash 'an unprecedented rise in the number of cyber incidents,' attributing this to the technology's ability to uncover long-tolerated weaknesses in IT systems.
Military under attack
Horne will reveal that British military communications networks face daily 'persistent' and 'sustained' attacks, with Russia identified as one perpetrator. These campaigns deliberately avoid crossing into warfare, representing Moscow's strategy of hybrid warfare that 'intentionally falls below the threshold of armed conflict' while escalating attempts to destabilize.
Recent cyber-attacks on European supermarket fridges, where hackers raised temperatures above 50C, serve as a warning to organizations about the need for strong cyber resilience. Horne will criticize the tendency to 'get away with tech on the cheap' for decades.
Race for AI security
Professor Alan Woodward of Surrey University emphasized the urgent need for nation states and companies to access cutting-edge AI technology to identify and patch vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have begun providing advanced access to their most powerful models to help organizations detect serious IT glitches.
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