Terrorist cyber attacks on government computer systems and businesses could be “the next Pearl Harbor”, the head of Britain’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has warned.
Murray Wardrop and Duncan Gardham
Telegraph
The claim comes as a Government report identifies the “growing threat” of computer hackers to Britain as a key priority for the security and intelligence services.
The National Security Strategy, to be unveiled by David Cameron, lists cyber attacks alongside violent terrorism as the most important challenges faced.
It is named ahead of natural disasters and military attacks from other countries in a list of the four most pressing concerns to national security.
The strategy is a key precursor for the Strategic Defence and Security Review, to be published tomorrow, which will explain how Britain will defend itself against such attacks.
It will also form the basis for spending decisions to be announced this week, including a £500 million boost to cyber defence, sources told The Daily Telegraph.
Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister’s announcement, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of the ISC, said cyber attacks could pose “very massive problems”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s not people hacking into private citizens’ computers.
“What we’re talking about is terrorists being able to actually use cyber methods, for example, to interrupt the National Grid to prevent proper instructions going to power stations, which are under computer control.
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