Russian hackers put the UK on official threat footing with attempts to take out critical infrastructure

RUSSIAN hackers have tried to take out critical British infrastructure in recent months - putting the country on an official threat footing.

The National Cyber Security Centre is issuing a warning to firms to bolster their defences to protect against “Wagner-like” keyboard militants.

Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden will today reveal the alarming flurry of sabotage attempts to “disrupt or destroy” key sectors.

He will say: “Disclosing this threat is not something we do lightly.

"But we believe it is necessary if we want these companies to understand the current risk they face, and take action to defend themselves and the country.”

The top Tory will warn that these Kremlin-aligned groups are “ideologically motivated, rather than financially motivated”, making them even more dangerous.

Britain is one of the world’s most targeted countries for hack attacks.

Mr Dowden, who recently took over responsibility for national investment security, says bosses needed to wise up to sabotage threats.

He will tell the CyberUK conference in Belfast: “These are the companies in charge of keeping our country running of keeping the lights on.

“Our shared prosperity depends on them taking their own security seriously.

“A bricks-and-mortar business wouldn’t survive if it left the back door open to criminals every night.

“Equally in today’s world, businesses can’t afford to leave their digital back door open to cyber crooks and hackers.”

Mr Dowden will also beef up IT defences on government systems and give Whitehall cyber security buffs higher pay.

He will set out resilience targets for all crucial infrastructure for 2025 and bring all private sector firms under new anti-hack regulations.