BT reveals 300% increase in malicious scans targeting UK businesses

Cyber criminals focused on UK organisations have ramped up their strategies, scanning web-connected devices more than 4,000 times daily. BT's network data indicates a 300% rise in malicious scans over the past year. These automated scans target vulnerabilities in a range of devices, including laptops and mobile phones, signaling heightened threats in the cybersecurity landscape.

Professional services, retail, and hospitality sectors are identified as the most significant targets for ransomware attacks, which can result from hardware and human error. Smaller businesses, particularly those with fewer than 25 employees, face acute vulnerability to these attacks, often leading to severe operational disruptions.

In response to the growing cyber threats, BT launched a new cybersecurity service in partnership with CrowdStrike, aimed at enhancing security for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The new offering, BT Business Antivirus Detect and Respond, utilizes CrowdStrike’s AI-native technology to identify and stop threats proactively. This initiative is seen as an essential measure to bolster defenses for all sizes of businesses against evolving cyber threats.

Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer at BT Business, emphasized the importance of securing all businesses from cyber threats, noting that even small firms are targeted by sophisticated cybercriminals. Daniel Bernard, Chief Business Officer at CrowdStrike, highlighted the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by adversaries to execute targeted attacks, underscoring the necessity of advanced protection measures for businesses.

BT's expansion of cybersecurity offerings follows previous initiatives aimed at improving threat protection and awareness among UK businesses, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing overall cybersecurity resilience.