BT ‘logs 2,000 signals of potential cyber attacks every second’

BT logs 2,000 signals of potential cyber attacks every second, according to new data from the telecoms giant, as it warned of the growing threat from cyber criminals.

The firm said that it found that web-connected devices were being scanned more than 1,000 times each a day by known malicious sources, as hackers look for weaknesses in online systems.

While some scans are conducted legitimately for security monitoring, BT said 78% were not harmless.

BT said its latest data on the issue showed a 1,234% increase in new malicious scanners across its networks over the last 12 months, and warned that the rise could be attributed to more cyber criminals turning to AI-powered, automated bots to scan for vulnerabilities in security systems as a way of evading tools designed to spot suspicious activity.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has previously warned that AI tools were upskilling cyber criminals and lowering the barrier to entry for carrying out cyber attacks.

According to BT’s research, the IT, defence and financial services sectors were the most targeted for cyber attacks, but other areas, such as retail, education and hospitality were being increasingly targeted because they are perceived to have less focus on security.

The data was released during BT’s Secure Tomorrow cybersecurity festival at the firm’s Adastral Park research centre in Suffolk.

Tris Morgan, managing director for security at BT, said: “Today, every business is a digital business, and our data shows that every 90 seconds hackers are checking connected devices to find a way in – like opportunistic burglars looking for an open window.

“Tools like AI provide new routes of attack, but they can also be the first line of defence. At BT, we’re constantly evolving our network security to stay one step ahead and protect more than a million businesses, day in, day out.”

The warning about cybersecurity comes in the wake of the Government announcing that it was designating all UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), putting them on an equal footing to energy, water and emergency services infrastructure, and will now receive more support and protection from Government to protect it from cyber attacks, IT blackouts and environmental disasters.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “The threat from cyber crime is growing as some criminal activity tries to use new technologies to attack the digital systems that underpin our economy.

“That’s why we are introducing new measures to bolster the UK’s cyber defences and have today designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure.

“These steps underscore our commitment to protecting our economy, public services and the wider public from evolving threats, ensuring the UK remains a world leader in cyber resilience.”