Countdown: The Top 10 UK Cyber Attacks of 2024

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In this article:

• ?? High-profile cyber breaches
• ?? AI-powered fraud and ransomware attacks
• ?? Nation-state attacks from China and Russia
• ?? Healthcare and transport sectors faced serious disruptions

2024 was an anxiety-inducing time for many major UK organisations. Take a look at the worst cyber security blunders in the UK in 2024.

1. Ministry of Defence Payroll Data Breach?

A breach at Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), a contractor for the Ministry of Defence, compromised sensitive payroll data for 272,000 current and former military personnel.

2. Transport for London (TfL) Cyber Attack?

On September 1, TfL detected suspicious activity on its IT systems. Although services continued without disruption, nearly 5,000 customers’ personal and financial data were compromised.?

3. UK Electoral Commission Breach

In March, reports revealed that the UK Electoral Commission had been hacked, allegedly by the Chinese government. The breach exposed electoral register records, impacting millions of voters and raising questions about election integrity.?

4. BBC Pension Data Breach?

Cybercriminals targeted the BBC’s pension system in May, leaking personal data for 25,000 current and former employees, including National Insurance numbers and pension details.?

5. British Library Cyber Attack?

The Rhysida ransomware gang claimed responsibility for attacking the British Library. While details remain sparse, this incident highlighted that cultural institutions are far from immune to cyber threats.?

6. Deepfake Fraud Targeting FTSE Companies?

Fraudsters used deepfake technology to impersonate CEOs of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies. These AI-generated videos and voice clones were used to trick employees into making fraudulent transfers, primarily via WhatsApp.?

7. Pro-Russian DDoS Attacks on UK Councils?

The pro-Russian group NoName057(16) disrupted local council services in October through Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. These politically motivated actions underscored the persistent threat of hacktivism.?

8. NHS Cyber Attack by Qilin?

In June, Russian cybercriminal group Qilin targeted the NHS, causing disruptions in blood testing and transfusions. Patient data was also compromised; Qilin shared almost 400GB of the private information on the dark web.

9. Microsoft DDoS Attack?

A global DDoS attack on Microsoft in July disrupted services for airports like Heathrow and several UK banks. The incident caused operational and financial losses, underscoring the fragility of digital infrastructure.?

10. Chinese Cyber Espionage Campaigns?

Attributed Chinese state-sponsored hackers such as APT31, linked to Chinas MSS, intensified efforts to breach critical UK infrastructure and political entities throughout 2024. These sophisticated campaigns aimed to steal sensitive information and potentially disrupt vital systems such as the energy and telecoms sectors

What's the view for 2025?

?? Read our expert musings on the year to come, over on our blog...