UK Launches AI Security Lab to Counter Russian Cyber Threats

Britain boffins gear up for AI warfare with Russia

'Be in no doubt: the UK and others in this room are watching Russia' The government of the United Kingdom on Monday announced the formation of a Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) to make the nation more resilient to AI-powered cyber threats from Russia. "Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia," said the Right Honourable Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference on Monday. "We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes." McFadden said that Russia is increasingly shifting its offense online rather than putting boots on the ground. As we've seen in the war against Ukraine, Russia has struck infrastructure targets digitally. The Chancellor warned that the situation will get worse, not better. "Cyber war is now a daily reality. One where our defenses are constantly being tested. The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems. 75 years after its foundation, it is clear we need NATO more than ever," he added. "NATO has stayed relevant over the last seven decades by constantly adapting to new threats. It has navigated the worlds of nuclear proliferation and militant nationalism," McFadden noted. "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield." The office of Chancellor Duchy of Lancaster is far more than a title: it's the second-most senior Cabinet appointment after the Prime Minister. McFadden's remarks therefore carry considerable weight. The lab will receive £8.22 million ($10.34 million) in seed capital from the UK government and is looking for private support as well. The org will collaborate with various UK entities, including the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at the Ministry of Defence, the Alan Turing Institute, and the University of Oxford. Nations from NATO and the Five Eyes alliance are also invited to form partnerships. In addition the UK government is throwing an additional £1 million ($1.23 million) into an incident response project that can warn allies about ongoing threats and deal with incidents as they occur. "Today we have launched a new, world-leading research lab to enhance AI security to ensure the UK and our allies reap the benefits of AI, while detecting, disrupting and deterring adversaries who would use it to undermine our national security and economic prosperity," added Stephen Doughty, the UK's Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories. New of LASR's formation was made at the second NATO Cyber Defence Conference. It's hoped that member states will unite against a common foe - and pretty much everyone knows who that is. "Putin is a man who wants destruction, not peace. He is trying to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats. He will not be successful," McFadden pledged. "We know from history that appeasing dictators engaged in aggression against their neighbours only encourages them. Britain learned long ago the importance of standing strong in the face of such actions." ®

UK in AI arms race with Russia as Putin 'wants destruction', minister to warn

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The UK is in a "new AI arms race" with countries like Russia and North Korea, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will say on Monday. Minister Pat McFadden will be speaking at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference at Lancaster House, warning the UK and its allies that "cyber war is now a daily reality". "Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes," he will say. In a bid to keep up with adversaries, Mr McFadden will announce a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR). "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security," he will say. "But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield." Chinese threats US officials recently discovered a Chinese attack on the country's telecommunications infrastructure, where operatives "extracted all sorts of sensitive information from US telecommunications and penetrated it very deeply", according to tech investor Andrew Levi. "That shows that this isn't just about Russia," he told Sky News. In May, GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler said the intelligence agency now "devotes more resource to China than any other single mission", after the country hacked the Ministry of Defence's payroll system and was accused of stealing data about UK voters from the Electoral Commission. In recent months, cyber security firm Check Point said it had seen "an uptick of 72% in cyber attacks on targets in the UK", according to Sergey Shykevitch, who leads the company's threat intelligence research. "It is definitely possible, with the right investment and national cyber security strategy, to reduce the risks from such attacks," he told Sky News. "But we have to remember that for the attacker, it is enough to have one successful attack in order to achieve their goal, while the defender has to be able to prevent 100% of the attacks." AI 'only one part of the puzzle' The new AI laboratory will receive an initial £8.22m round of government funding before inviting further investment and collaboration from industry. However, one expert told Sky News AI is only "one part of the puzzle" in terms of making the UK less vulnerable to cyberattacks. "We need to fundamentally change our posture and invest in our networks," said Stephen Kines, chief executive of British cyber security firm Goldilock. Read more from science, climate and technology: COP29 strikes last ditch deal on funding for climate measures Folding clothes and sitting on sofas could give off microplastics AI squirrel spotter deployed to protect endangered red squirrels He said the UK's "legacy infrastructure" leaves the country vulnerable and adding AI protection on top is like having a "nice front door" with a security camera doorbell but an "old-school back door". "That's really the problem we have. We've got these back doors that just have no security whatsoever," he said. Mr Kines suggests the UK would be better off implementing physical "kill switches" in its grids in order to protect against Russian attacks, as well as reducing how many access points are connected to the internet. "If you take it down to the physical layer, then you can actually defeat the Russians because they can't physically penetrate it from thousands of miles away." Alongside the new laboratory, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will also announce a new £1m incident response project to share expertise so that allies can respond to cyber incidents more effectively.

UK invites allies to combat the 'new AI arms race' with security research lab

The lab will collaborate with academic and industry experts to counter AI threats The UK has announced the establishment of a laboratory dedicated to security research in order to keep NATO and its allies ahead in the "new AI arms race." The Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) was announced at the recent NATO Cyber Defence Conference, and is set to receive £8 million of initial government funding. The lab will collaborate with experts from UK universities, allied intelligence agencies, and private industry to improve cybersecurity at home and abroad. "NATO needs to continue to adapt to the world of AI, because as the tech evolves, the threat evolves," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said to NATO allies at the Cyber Defense conference. "The lab will pull together world-class industry, academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on our national security. While AI can amplify existing cyber threats, it can also create better cyber defence tools and presents opportunities for intelligence agencies to collect, analyse, and produce more useful intelligence," he added. The new research lab is born amidst other new initiatives aimed at improving the UK's cyber resilience, such as the incoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, and a £1 million cyber incident response project that was also announced at the NATO conference. The lab will seek additional investment and collaboration from industry alongside its initial £8.22 million in funding. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also said one of the aims of the laboratory is to counter Russian aggression in the cyber world, warning that the Kremlin is ready to launch a cyber war against the UK at any moment earlier in the conference. "We know from history that appeasing dictators engaged in aggression against their neighbours only encourages them. Britain learned long ago the importance of standing strong in the face of such actions," he said, referring to Neville Chamberlain's appeasement plan in the 1930s, which allowed fascist Germany and Italy to expand unchecked. "That's why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny. Putin is a man who wants destruction, not peace. He is trying to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats. He will not be successful," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster concluded.

Russia plotting to use AI to enhance cyber-attacks against UK, minister will warn

Pat McFadden will tell a Nato conference on Monday that Russia could knock out the UK's electricity grid Russia and other adversaries of the UK are trying to use artificial intelligence to enhance cyber-attacks against the nation's infrastructure, the cabinet minister Pat McFadden will warn at a Nato conference in London on Monday. The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will announce the creation of a research programme in London, called the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), to keep on top of emerging threats as he warns there is a risk that Russia will try to knock out the electricity grid. There is a danger that artificial intelligence "could be weaponised against us," McFadden will warn, arguing that the UK is already engaged in the "daily reality" of a "cyberwar," with hacking efforts coming in particular from Russia. Over the past year, Russia's criminals and hackers have "stepped up their attacks" against the UK, he will add, and targeted other Nato allies who have been supporting Ukraine with military aid as it tries to fight off Russian aggression. Last week, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, went further and directly threatened countries including the UK, which allowed Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles on targets inside Russia. Russia "had the right" to strike military targets in response, Putin said. Few believe that Russia would risk a conventional military attack against a Nato member in reality, but an enhanced cyber-attack remains a real possibility, possibly by targeting the electricity network. McFadden is expected to say that "Russia has targeted our media, our telecoms, our political and democratic institutions and our energy infrastructure," and warn that "with a cyber-attack, Russia can turn the lights off for millions of people. It can shut down the power grids". Russia has conducted cyber-attacks on Ukrainian power networks in the past, though the country's defences have improved. Two regional power outages in December 2015 and 2016 were blamed on Russian hackers from the GRU military intelligence, according to a US indictment, though the impact of each was brief. Artificial intelligence has already been used by North Korean cyber hackers, according to the US, to try to create more destructive hacking tools, a trend that is expected to develop. "North Korea is the first, but it won't be the last," McFadden will say. The new lab will be funded with £8.2m and is being created with the cooperation of the UK spy agency GCHQ as well as other government agencies. Ministers hope that the private sector will contribute additional resources to help jointly tackle the threat.

UK spies to counter Russian cyber warfare threat with AI security lab

(Alliance News) - British spies will seek to counter the threat of Russian cyber warfare with a new laboratory for artificial intelligence, a minister will announce, as he insists Vladimir Putin will fail to deter support for Ukraine. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will say the UK and its Nato allies are "watching" Moscow and combatting its attacks both publicly and "behind the scenes" as he delivers a major speech on Monday. In an apparent reference to the lead-up to the Second World War, he will warn that the UK "learned long ago" to not appease dictators and that Putin "will not be successful" in attempting to weaken backing for Ukraine. McFadden, whose brief includes national security, will also announce a new Laboratory for AI Security Research, or LAISR, aimed at helping the UK stay ahead in "the new AI arms race". The centre will bring together GCHQ, Oxford University, the National Cyber Security Centre, the Alan Turing Institute and numerous Government departments, and be backed by an initial GBP8.22 million in state funding. Speaking at the Nato cyber defence conference at Lancaster House, McFadden will say: "Be in no doubt: the UK and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes. "We know from history that appeasing dictators engaged in aggression against their neighbours only encourages them. Britain learned long ago the importance of standing strong in the face of such actions. "That's why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny. Putin is a man who wants destruction, not peace. He is trying to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats. He will not be successful." McFadden will also warn that cyber interference enables Russia to "turn the lights off for millions of people" by shutting down power grids and represents the "hidden war" it is waging against Kyiv. But while AI can amplify existing cyber threats, it can also create better defence tools for security agencies to use to collect, analyse, and produce more useful intelligence, he will say. "Cyber war is now a daily reality," McFadden is expected to tell allies. "One where our defences are constantly being tested. The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems." He will add: "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield." Alongside the new laboratory, the minister will also announce a new GBP1 million incident response scheme designed to share expertise so that allies can counter cyber attacks more effectively. McFadden and senior national security officials will also meet business leaders next week to discuss how they can protect themselves as he warns Russia will "not think twice" about targeting British firms. The intervention comes amid a dramatic escalation in tensions between Russia and the west, with Putin lowering Moscow's threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and suggesting the Ukraine war is becoming a "global" conflict. The Russian leader has said he is entitled to target the military facilities of countries which have supplied weapons to Kyiv. On Thursday, Moscow used a new ballistic missile in Ukraine, which Putin said was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to be used to strike targets in Russia. Ministers have declined to explicitly confirm that British missiles have been used across the border, but the UK is widely believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow weapons to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region. Meanwhile, the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Putin's country. Moscow sent 73 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday. According to Ukraine's air force, 50 drones were destroyed and four lost, likely having been electronically jammed. In Russia, the defence ministry said 34 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in four regions of western Russia, including Kursk, Lipetsk, Belgorod and one over the Oryol region. Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Britain, NATO must stay ahead in 'new AI arms race', says UK minister

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and its NATO allies must stay ahead in "the new AI arms race", British cabinet office minister Pat McFadden will say on Monday, warning that Russian cyber criminals are increasingly targeting countries that support Ukraine. Addressing a NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London, McFadden will unveil Britain's plans to set up a new Laboratory for AI (artificial intelligence) security to help create better cyber defence tools and organise intelligence on attacks. In the latest warning about Moscow stepping up cyber attacks on nations backing Ukraine, McFadden will call on the U.S.-led military alliance, businesses and institutions to do "everything they can to lock their own digital doors" to protect themselves from what he called an increasingly aggressive Russia. "Cyber war is now a daily reality. One where our defences are constantly being tested," he will say, according to extracts of his speech released in advance. "The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems. Seventy-five years after its foundation, it is clear we need NATO more than ever." Moscow has previously denied that it carries out cyberattacks, and officials have cast such accusations as attempts to incite anti-Russian sentiment. McFadden will say AI could be weaponised against those countries supportive of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 to step up what he described as the daily reality of cyber warfare against Britain and its allies. "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield," he will say. McFadden's role as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster includes responsibility for British national and cyber security. The new laboratory, supported with an initial 8.22 million pounds ($10.3 million) of government funding, will bring together academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on national security and better understand its use by Russia. "Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes," McFadden will say. "That's why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny." (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Mark Heinrich)

UK seeks collaboration for security research lab to counter Russia and 'new AI arms race' | TechCrunch

The U.K. is seeking collaboration for a new AI security research lab that's designed to counter Russia and other hostile states in what it dubs the "new AI arms race." While the U.K. government has launched numerous funding initiatives in the past to support cybersecurity projects, the rise of AI-fueled nation-state attacks, specifically, is the driving force behind this latest endeavor. The Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) will be funded initially with £8.22 million ($10.3 million) from the government itself, but it is adopting what it calls a "catalytic model," which it hopes will see other entities from industry contribute to the pot. "Be in no doubt -- the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia," the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, said in a prepared statement ahead of the NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London today. "We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes." The lab's ultimate remit is to "protect the U.K. and its allies against new threats," and will include partnerships with various government departments, including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the Alan Turing Institute, and the AI Safety Institute. Academic institutions such as the University of Oxford and Queen's University Belfast are also involved, while the government says the laboratory will pursue collaboration with "like-minded partners," including the so-called Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.) and NATO members. Russia, in particular, has been a central player in many recent cyber attacks, with Microsoft President Brad Smith last week urging President-elect Donald Trump to take a tougher stance against nation-states, including Russia, China and Iran. Indeed, Microsoft has accused Russian government hackers of continuing to infiltrate its systems following a hack the previous year. But while attackers can use AI to scale their efforts, for instance by adapting in real-time to evade detection or exploiting vulnerabilities more efficiently, AI can also be used to counter such attacks. This is partly what the U.K.'s new cyber lab is designed for. "While AI can amplify existing cyber threats, it can also create better cyber defence tools, and presents opportunities for intelligence agencies to collect, analyse, and produce more useful intelligence," McFadden said.

Britain, NATO must stay ahead in 'new AI arms race', says UK minister

In the latest warning about Moscow stepping up cyber attacks on nations backing Ukraine, McFadden will call on the U.S.-led military alliance, businesses and institutions to do "everything they can to lock their own digital doors" to protect themselves from what he called an increasingly aggressive Russia.Britain and its NATO allies must stay ahead in "the new AI arms race", British cabinet office minister Pat McFadden will say on Monday, warning that Russian cyber criminals are increasingly targeting countries that support Ukraine. Addressing a NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London, McFadden will unveil Britain's plans to set up a new Laboratory for AI (artificial intelligence) security to help create better cyber defence tools and organise intelligence on attacks. In the latest warning about Moscow stepping up cyber attacks on nations backing Ukraine, McFadden will call on the U.S.-led military alliance, businesses and institutions to do "everything they can to lock their own digital doors" to protect themselves from what he called an increasingly aggressive Russia. "Cyber war is now a daily reality. One where our defences are constantly being tested," he will say, according to extracts of his speech released in advance. "The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems. Seventy-five years after its foundation, it is clear we need NATO more than ever." Moscow has previously denied that it carries out cyberattacks, and officials have cast such accusations as attempts to incite anti-Russian sentiment. McFadden will say AI could be weaponised against those countries supportive of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 to step up what he described as the daily reality of cyber warfare against Britain and its allies. "AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there's a danger it could be weaponised against us because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield," he will say. McFadden's role as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster includes responsibility for British national and cyber security. The new laboratory, supported with an initial 8.22 million pounds ($10.3 million) of government funding, will bring together academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on national security and better understand its use by Russia. "Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others in this room are watching Russia. We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes," McFadden will say. "That's why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny." ($1 = 0.7980 pounds)

Russia-Ukraine war live: at least 10 injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv

Russia plotting to use AI to enhance cyber-attacks against UK, minister will warn Dan Sabbagh is the Guardian's defence and security editor Russia and other adversaries of the UK are trying to use artificial intelligence to enhance cyber-attacks against the nation's infrastructure, the cabinet minister Pat McFadden will warn at a Nato conference in London on Monday. The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will announce the creation of a research programme in London, called the Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR), to keep on top of emerging threats as he warns there is a risk that Russia will try to knock out the electricity grid. There is a danger that artificial intelligence "could be weaponised against us," McFadden will warn, arguing that the UK is already engaged in the "daily reality" of a "cyberwar," with hacking efforts coming in particular from Russia. Over the past year, Russia's criminals and hackers have "stepped up their attacks" against the UK, he will add, and targeted other Nato allies who have been supporting Ukraine with military aid as it tries to fight off Russian aggression.

Britain is in 'AI arms race' with Russia, Pat McFadden to warn

Britain has entered an "AI arms race" with Russia, a Cabinet minister is expected to warn today. Speaking before the Nato Cyber Defence Conference at Lancaster House on Monday, Pat McFadden will declare that artificial intelligence is "revolutionising many parts of life - including national security". The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be announcing the launch of a new Laboratory for AI Security Research (Lasr) that will work to improve Britain's cyber resilience. Mr McFadden will also warn that Moscow is prepared to launch a wave of cyber attacks across the country in a n attempt to cause havoc on the UK's critical infrastructure. He will say there is an imminent risk of a Russian cyber attack on businesses and infrastructure that could "shut down the power grids" and deal a hammer blow to the economy.