, Oliver Dowden, a Cabinet Office minister will warn in a speech. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will also issue an official threat alert to critical businesses such as water and energy supplies, recommending that they “act now” to protect themselves against the emerging cyber threat.
The hacking groups, which are often sympathetic to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, are believed to be ideologically-motivated and “less predictable” because they are not subject to formal state control. Some of these groups have expressed a desire to create a disruptive and destructive impact against western critical national infrastructure including in the UK. Mr Dowden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will describe the hackers as “Wagner-like,” likening them to the Russian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine.
