United Kingdom
UK announces plan to strengthen public sector cyber defenses
The United Kingdom has announced a new cybersecurity strategy, backed by more than £210 million ($283 million), to boost cyber defenses across government departments and the wider public sector. The new measures are part of the Government Cyber Action Plan that establishes a dedicated Government Cyber Unit to coordinate risk management and incident response, aiming to make online public services more […]
‘Scattered Spider’ teens plead not guilty to UK transport hack
Two British teenagers have denied charges related to an investigation into the breach of Transport for London (TfL) in August 2024, which caused millions of pounds in damage and exposed customer data. Believed to be members of the Scattered Spider hacking collective, 19-year-old Thalha Jubair from east London and 18-year-old Owen Flowers from Walsall were arrested at their homes […]
Russian bulletproof hosting provider sanctioned over ransomware ties
Today, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced sanctions targeting Russian bulletproof hosting (BPH) providers that have supported ransomware gangs and other cybercrime operations. BPH providers that lease servers to cybercriminals to help them hinder disruption efforts targeting their malicious activities, including phishing attacks, malware delivery, command and control operations, and illicit content […]
New UK laws to strengthen critical infrastructure cyber defenses
The United Kingdom has introduced new legislation to boost cybersecurity defenses for hospitals, energy systems, water supplies, and transport networks against cyberattacks, linked to annual damages of nearly £15 billion ($19.6 billion). The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, introduced in the UK Parliament on November 12, builds upon the existing Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 and represents […]
Synnovis notifies of data breach after 2024 ransomware attack
Synnovis, a leading UK pathology services provider, is notifying healthcare providers that a data breach occurred following a ransomware attack in June 2024, which resulted in the theft of some patients’ data. Founded in 2021, Synnovis is a partnership between international medical diagnostics provider SYNLAB, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It […]
UK carriers to block spoofed phone numbers in fraud crackdown
Under a new partnership with the government aimed at combating fraud, Britain’s largest mobile carriers have committed to upgrading their networks to eliminate scammers’ ability to spoof phone numbers within a year. This agreement is part of the new Telecoms Charter, which brings together law enforcement, government agencies, and Britain’s top mobile networks, including BT […]
London police arrests suspects linked to nursery breach, child doxing
The UK Metropolitan Police has arrested two suspects following an investigation into the doxing of children online after a ransomware attack on a chain of London-based nurseries. The 17-year-old suspects were taken into custody at their homes in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, on suspicion of blackmail and computer misuse. While the Met didn’t share more details […]
Imgur blocks UK users after data watchdog signals possible fine
People in the United Kingdom are no longer able to access content hosted on the Imgur, a popular media sharing site, after a UK data watchdog warned it may impose a monetary penalty on the parent company, MediaLab. Visitors to the site are now shown a message stating, “Content not available in your region,” with a […]
UK to ban public sector orgs from paying ransomware gangs
The United Kingdom’s government is planning to ban public sector and critical infrastructure organizations from paying ransoms after ransomware attacks. The list of entities that would have to follow the new proposed legislation includes local councils, schools, and the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). “Ransomware is estimated to cost the UK economy millions of […]
Co-op confirms data of 6.5 million members stolen in cyberattack
UK retailer Co-op has confirmed that personal data of 6.5 million members was stolen in the massive cyberattack in April that shut down systems and caused food shortages in its grocery stores. Co-op (short for the Co-operative Group) is one of the United Kingdom’s largest consumer co-operatives, operating food stores, funeral services, insurance, and legal […]