During the CyberUK 2025 conference, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden announced the declassification of an intelligence assessment indicating that the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expected to escalate both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks in the UK. In 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) received nearly 2,000 cyberattack reports, with 90 deemed significant and 12 classified as highly severe—a threefold increase in major incidents from the previous year. Recent ransomware attacks have disrupted operations at major British retailers, including Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group, and Harrods. The UK government plans to introduce a new cybersecurity strategy and legislate new powers under the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to bolster national defenses.

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