Undersea Cables And Digital Systems At Risk, MPs Warn

A new report from Parliament’s Defence Committee made a warning that Britain is not ready for a growing set of quiet but damaging activities from countries like Russia and China. These are known as grey zone threats. They fall below the level of full military conflict but still cause harm.

Examples are cyberattacks, fake news, sabotage, and using criminal groups to create disruption. The report says these tactics are being used more often and with more skill.

One problem is that most of the UK’s critical infrastructure, like internet cables and energy pipelines, is owned by private companies. This makes it harder to protect and easier to attack. Open access to media and the internet also helps false information spread quickly.

 

Where Is The UK Most Exposed?

 

The report spoke on undersea cables as a main risk. Around 60 cables and many pipelines surround the British Isles. These carry internet and power across the country and abroad. A single break could cause serious problems.

In 2022, a cable near Shetland broke by accident. It still led to panic. The report says this shows how damaging even one cable failure can be. If it were done on purpose, the outcome would likely be worse.

Britain has already seen signs of possible spying near its waters. The report mentions Russian underwater sensors found nearby. When asked about this, Russia’s ambassador did not deny it.

 

 

What Is Currently Being Done To Protect The UK?

 

The Ministry of Defence has some tools in place. These include the 77th Brigade, which works on information and communication tasks, and the Ranger Regiment, which supports other countries in dangerous situations. There is also the RFA Proteus, a ship brought into service in 2023 to help protect undersea cables.

But the report says this is not enough. The 77th Brigade does not have enough people. The RFA Proteus is a converted civilian ship and cannot cover large areas on its own. The UK originally planned to have two such ships.

Other countries are doing more. The United States, for example, uses nuclear-powered submarines to patrol the seabed and is already preparing newer models.

 

What Does The Report Recommend?

 

The Defence Committee makes a few suggestions. It wants better cyber defences, more undersea protection tools, and new ways for government departments to work together. It also calls for stronger links between the military and schools, companies, and local groups.

One idea is to name a specific minister in charge of homeland security. This person would help bring together different parts of government and society to improve preparation.

The report also suggests improving education around digital safety and building more long-term skills to protect computer networks. It says Defence should hire more people with digital knowledge and form closer links with private tech companies.

Spencer Starkey, Executive VP EMEA at SonicWall, said, “For cybercriminals, schools are powerhouses of data which hold incredibly sensitive information. Educational institutions often have relatively weaker cybersecurity measures compared to other sectors because they have limited budgets and resources allocated to cybersecurity. The education sector is a vital institution which sits at the very centre of our society. Students, teachers and parents alike need to be able to trust that their sensitive information is being kept safe.

“Hackers can use the data for two different attack types: phishing and financial crime. By stealing the students and parents information they can impersonate individuals in phishing attacks. Think of the popular ‘Hi Mum’ scam that gained popularity among hackers earlier this year, cybercriminals can use the data at hand for sophisticated scams.

“Hackers will also leverage this data to replicate students’ or staff members’ identities for financial crime. An example of this is ransomware, cyber criminals are able to hold this data they steal from educational institutions for ransom for a high price.“