- Anne Keast-Butler, head of GCHQ, will warn that Russia is "relentlessly" targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains, and public trust in the UK and Europe.
- In the inaugural GCHQ annual lecture on Wednesday, she will highlight that the rapid advancement of technology, including China's rise as a tech superpower and AI progression, means a "narrowing window" for the UK and its allies to maintain a technological advantage.
- Keast-Butler will urge the public, businesses, and the technology industry to urgently enhance cybersecurity measures, including switching from passwords to passkeys and integrating security into new technologies.
- The warning follows recent incidents, such as an RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey having its signals jammed near the Russian border, an act believed to be a Russian electronic attack.
- These concerns are echoed by previous warnings from Nato and the National Cyber Security Centre about the mounting threat from hostile states like Russia, China, and Iran, and Russian submarine activity near vital UK infrastructure.
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