BT Report HUGE Rise in Malicious IP Scanners Across UK Network

Telecoms and broadband ISP giant BT has today revealed that their UK network is logging 2,000 signals of potential cyber-attacks a second (200 million per day), while malicious scans of online (Internet Protocol) networks and devices have surged by over 1,234% in the last year alone.

The data, which was unveiled at BT’s Secure Tomorrow cybersecurity festival at its Adastral Park research site, showed that web-connected devices are scanned over 1,000 times a day by known malicious sources – an average of once every 90 seconds. While some scans are conducted legitimately for security monitoring, the operator claims that 78% are not harmless (i.e. hackers are looking for weaknesses in the online systems of businesses and public services etc.).

BT’s analysis also revealed that IT, defence and financial services are the three most targeted industries for cyber-attacks but, increasingly, less traditional sectors like retail, education, and hospitality – which may not have focused as much on their security – have also found themselves in the sights of cyber criminals.

Tris Morgan, Managing Director – 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 National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has similarly said that AI will “almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact” of cyber-attacks over the next two years, while cybercriminals are increasingly using the tech to conduct their reconnaissance and carry out more sophisticated attacks. The global ransomware threat is also set to increase due to AI, not least by making it easier for novice cyber-criminals to hack into businesses.