Spy chiefs urge power companies to bolster security amid poison row

Spy chiefs have urged power companies to bolster their security amid fears Kremlin cyberattacks could cause blackouts across Britain.

The National Grid has been put on alert and electricity, gas and water firms warned to prepare for the possibility of hacking as the diplomatic row with Russia escalates. 

Government departments, the NHS, Sellafield nuclear plant, and other key organisations have also been told they could face attempts to steal data or ‘denial of service’ attacks. 

According to the Sunday Times, the National Cyber Security Centre, National Crime Agency and MI5’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure have all been providing advice to defend potentially vulnerable assets

Sellafield nuclear plant (pictured) is said to be among the key infrastructure that spy chiefs fear could be targeted by the Kremlin

There are concerns about the potential for ‘denial of service’ attacks against service providers like the NHS

A Whitehall security source said: ‘They’re contacting all the critical national infrastructure operators. They’ve been in touch with National Grid with guidance.’

Paul Chichester, the NCSC director of operations, said: ‘It is absolutely right that we give advice to sectors on defending themselves from cyber-attacks.

‘We are vigilant to cyber-threats wherever they come from and are ready to defend against them.’

The fears came as Boris Johnson lashed out at the Kremlin over its ‘futile’ tit-for-tat in the poison attack row.

The Foreign Secretary said only Russians would suffer due to Moscow’s expulsion of 23 British diplomats and the closures of the British Council.

Branding Vladimir Putin a ‘bully’, Mr Johnson jibed that his regime was ‘isolated’. ‘We have friends across the world and he does not,’ he said. 

Mr Johnson also took aim at Jeremy Corbyn over his unwillingness to condemn Russia over the outrage, saying: ‘He let down his party and country by seemingly aiding the efforts of the Russian propaganda machine by casting doubt over what is obvious to any objective onlooker.’

Theresa May has said Britain and its allies are considering their next move and the national security council will meet again this week.

Former double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition in hospital, while Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was exposed to the Novichok nerve agent while responding to the incident, is no longer considered critical. 

Boris Johnson (pictured at an event in Uxbridge on Friday) has lashed out at the Kremlin over its ‘futile’ tit-for-tat in the poison attack row

Vladimir Putin, pictured at a hospital in St Petersburg on Friday, has denied Russia was involved in the ‘hit’ but made thinly-veiled threats at ‘traitors’

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that it had ordered the British diplomats to leave within a week and indicated it could take further action should there be what it called more ‘unfriendly’ moves.

Writing in the Sun on Sunday, Mr Johnson said: ‘These futile measures will only punish ordinary Russians by depriving them of harmless opportunities to learn English and apply for UK visas.

‘Today Russia stands alone and isolated.

‘That fact demonstrates the most telling difference between Britain and Putin: we have friends across the world and he does not.’ 

Mr Johnson added: ‘We knew there would be risks in opposing the Kremlin – resisting a bully is always risky.

 

 

 

 

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