Home Office warns cyber crime a growing threat to UK

In the run-up to the Olympics, the Home Office has warned that cyber crime is now as great a threat as terrorism to the UK's national security.

Speaking at the National Security 2012 Conference in London this week, Richard Clarke, the Home Office Security and Counter Terrorism Department director, said hackers are becoming more aggressive.

"No doubt the threat is being spread across a wider area than ever. But you don't need many people to mount a threat to the UK," he said.

Only last week at the Lord Mayor's annual defence and security lecture, chief of MI5 Jonathan Evans said the level of cyber attacks on UK industry is already on an "industrial scale" and has reached an "astonishing" level.

Paul Davis, director of Europe at security company FireEye, said: "This is a hugely critical time for the country, as we prepare to have the world's eyes watching over us during the Olympic Games.

"Mr Clarke is absolutely right in his warning over the increased aggression and determination of cyber criminals, and organisations would do well to take heed and adapt their ongoing security strategies in line with this evolving threat."