UK spy agency asks academics to tackle cyber risks

(AP)—Britain's government says a new research institute partly funded by the country's eavesdropping spy agency will ask mathematicians and computer scientists to join the fight against cyber threats.

The Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ—Britain's equivalent of the U.S. —said Thursday that a new 3.8-million-pound ($6.1-million) program would fund a research institute at University College London.

Science minister David Willetts says academics would work with government experts and businesses to tackle emerging problems in the cyber arena.

Last week, Iain Lobban, head of GCHQ warned that businesses face "credible threats to cybersecurity of an unprecedented scale, diversity and complexity."

He said major companies, defense contractors and government departments had all been the victims of successful cyberattacks.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Citation: UK spy agency asks academics to tackle cyber risks (2012, September 13) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-09-uk-spy-agency-academics-tackle.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Britain faces 'real and credible' cyber threat: intel chief

0 shares

Feedback to editors