UK

UK government urges firms to keep paper backups for cyberattack recovery

The UK government has issued a strong warning to company leaders to prepare for cyber incidents by maintaining paper-based contingency plans. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) emphasised that firms must plan how to continue operations and rebuild IT systems if networks are compromised.

The advice follows a series of high-profile cyberattacks this year targeting major UK firms, including Marks & Spencer, The Co-op, and Jaguar Land Rover, which experienced production halts and supply disruptions after their systems were breached.

According to NCSC chief executive Richard Horne, organisations need to adopt ‘resilience engineering’ strategies, systems designed to anticipate, absorb, recover, and adapt during cyberattacks.

The agency recommends storing response plans offline and outlining alternative communication methods, such as phone trees and manual record-keeping, should email systems fail.

While the total number of cyber incidents investigated by the NCSC, 429 in the first nine months of 2025, remained stable, the number of ‘nationally significant’ attacks nearly doubled from 89 to 204. These include Category 1–3 incidents, ranging from ‘significant’ to ‘national cyber emergency.’

Recent cases highlight the human and operational toll of such events, including a ransomware attack on a London blood testing provider last year that caused severe clinical disruption and contributed to at least one patient death.

Experts say the call for offline backups may sound old-fashioned but is pragmatic. ‘You wouldn’t walk onto a building site without a helmet, yet companies still go online without basic protection,’ said Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point. ‘Cybersecurity must be treated like health and safety: not optional, but essential.’

The government is also encouraging companies, particularly SMEs, to use the NCSC’s free support tools, including cyber insurance linked to its Cyber Essentials programme.

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Oxford scientists achieve quantum teleportation milestone

Scientists at the University of Oxford have achieved quantum teleportation between two quantum computers, marking a major step toward distributed quantum computing. The experiment successfully transmitted a quantum algorithm wirelessly between processors using quantum entanglement.

Rather than moving physical matter, the process transferred data instantaneously by linking qubits, the basic units of quantum information. The two computers, though separated by two metres, shared data as if operating as one, greatly enhancing their combined computing power.

The British breakthrough demonstrates how multiple quantum systems could one day work together as a single global supercomputer. Researchers say the approach could enable quantum networks and lay the groundwork for a future quantum internet capable of unprecedented speeds and security.

Quantum teleportation works by using pairs of entangled particles that remain connected across any distance. While humans and objects cannot yet teleport, the technology could soon allow scientists to connect remote machines into unified, ultra-powerful computing systems.

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Vodafone restores UK network after major outage

Vodafone says its nationwide network outage that left thousands across the UK without broadband and mobile data has been fully resolved. The disruption, which began on Monday afternoon, triggered over 130,000 complaints to Downdetector as customers reported losing internet access.

The company confirmed that a software error from one of its vendors had caused the problem but stressed it was not the result of a cyberattack. Vodafone apologised and said the network had fully recovered after engineers implemented fixes late on Monday night.

Industry experts warned that the outage highlighted the need for stronger digital resilience. Analysts said businesses relying on Vodafone likely suffered missed deadlines and financial losses, with many expected to seek compensation.

The fault also impacted UK customers of Voxi, Lebara, and Talkmobile, which operate on Vodafone’s infrastructure. Cloudflare data showed Vodafone traffic temporarily dropped to zero, effectively cutting the network off from the internet for over an hour.

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Microsoft ends support for Windows 10

Windows 10 support ends on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, and routine security patches and fixes will no longer be provided. Devices will face increased cyber risk without updates. Microsoft urges upgrades to Windows 11 where possible.

Windows powers more than 1.4 billion devices, with Windows 10 still widely used. UK consumer group Which? estimates 21 million local users. Some plan to continue regardless, citing cost, waste, and working hardware.

Upgrade to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs via the Settings app. Others can enrol in Extended Security Updates, which deliver security fixes only until October 2026. ESU offers no technical support or feature updates.

Personal users in the European Economic Area can register for ESU at no charge. Elsewhere, eligibility may unlock ESU for free, or it costs $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Businesses pay $61 per device for year one.

Unsupported systems become easier targets for malware and scams, and some software may degrade over time. Organisations risk compliance issues running out-of-support platforms. Privacy-minded users may also dislike Windows 11’s tighter Microsoft account requirements.

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Google faces UK action over market dominance

Google faces new regulatory scrutiny in the UK after the competition watchdog designated it with strategic market status under a new digital markets law. The ruling could change how users select search engines and how Google ranks online content.

The Competition and Markets Authority said Google controls more than 90 percent of UK searches, giving it a position of unmatched influence. The designation enables the regulator to propose targeted measures to ensure fair competition, with consultations expected later in 2025.

Google argued that tighter restrictions could slow innovation, claiming its search tools contributed £118 billion to the UK economy in 2023. The company warned that new rules might hinder product development during rapid AI advancement.

The move adds to global scrutiny of the tech giant, which faces significant fines and court cases in the US and EU over advertising and app store practices. The CMA’s decision marks the first important use of its new powers to regulate digital platforms with strategic control.

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Scammers use AI to fake British boutiques

Fraudsters are using AI-generated images and back stories to pose as British family businesses, luring shoppers into buying cheap goods from Asia. Websites claiming to be long-standing local boutiques have been linked to warehouses in China and Hong Kong.

Among them is C’est La Vie, which presented itself as a Birmingham jeweller run by a couple called Eileen and Patrick. The supposed owners appeared in highly convincing AI-generated photos, while customers later discovered their purchases were shipped from China.

Victims described feeling cheated after receiving poor-quality jewellery and clothes that bore no resemblance to the advertised items. More than 500 complaints on Trustpilot accuse such companies of exploiting fabricated stories to appear authentic.

Consumer experts at Which? warn that AI tools now enable scammers to create fake brands at an unprecedented scale. The ASA has called on social media platforms to act, as many victims were targeted through Facebook ads.

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UK users lose access to Imgur amid watchdog probe

Imgur has cut off access for UK users after regulators warned its parent company, MediaLab AI, of a potential fine over child data protection.

Visitors to the platform since 30 September have been met with a notice saying that content is unavailable in their region, with embedded Imgur images on other sites also no longer visible.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) began investigating the platform in March, questioning whether it complied with data laws and the Children’s Code.

The regulator said it had issued MediaLab with a notice of intent to fine the company following provisional findings. Officials also emphasised that leaving the UK would not shield Imgur from responsibility for any past breaches.

Some users speculated that the withdrawal was tied to new duties under the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to check whether visitors are over 18 before allowing access to harmful content.

However, both the ICO and Ofcom stated that Imgur decided on a commercial choice. Other MediaLab services, such as Kik Messenger, continue to operate in the UK with age verification measures in place.

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Asahi cyberattack halts shipments in Japan

Japanese brewing giant Asahi has suffered a cyberattack that triggered a systems failure, disrupting shipping and customer services in Japan. The company stressed that European operations, including the UK, remain unaffected.

Order and shipment processes in its domestic market have been suspended, alongside customer service functions. Asahi apologised to customers and business partners, saying the cause is under investigation and there is no clear timeline for recovery.

The brewer is the largest in Japan, owning global beer brands such as Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, and Grolsch. It operates Fuller’s in the UK, which produces London Pride and Cornish Orchards cider.

Asahi has identified cyberattacks as a key business risk, with concerns over cash flow and brand damage. The incident comes as several major UK companies, including Harrods and Jaguar Land Rover, have also faced recent cyber breaches.

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UK’s Stockton secures £100m AI data centre to strengthen local economy

A £100m AI data centre has been approved for construction on the outskirts of Stockton, with developers Latos Data Centres pledging up to 150 new jobs.

The Preston Farms Industrial Estate site will feature two commercial units, plants, substations and offices, designed to support the growing demands of AI and advanced computing.

Work on the Neural Data Centre is set to begin at the end of the year, with full operations expected by 2028. The project has been welcomed by Industry Minister and Stockton North MP Chris McDonald, who described it as a significant investment in skills and opportunities for the future.

Latos managing director Andy Collin said the facility was intended to be ‘future proof’, calling it a purpose-built factory for the modern digital economy. Local leaders hope the investment will help regenerate Teesside’s industrial base, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge infrastructure.

The announcement follows the UK government’s decision to create an AI growth zone in the North East, covering sites in Northumberland and Tyneside. Teesworks in Redcar was not included in the initial allocation, but ministers said further proposals from Teesside were still under review.

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UK supports JLR supply chain with £1.5 billion loan guarantee

The UK Government will guarantee a £1.5 billion loan to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in response to the cyber-attack that forced the carmaker to halt production.

An Export Development Guarantee, administered by UK Export Finance, will back a commercial bank loan repaid over five years to stabilise JLR’s finances and protect its supply chain.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the attack as a strike on the UK’s automotive sector and said the guarantee would safeguard jobs across the West Midlands, Merseyside and beyond.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves called JLR a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UK economy, stressing that the package would protect tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly linked to the manufacturer.

JLR employs 34,000 people in the UK and supports an automotive supply chain of 120,000 workers, many in SMEs.

The guarantee forms part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which includes backing for electric vehicle adoption, reduced energy costs for manufacturers, and multi-billion-pound commitments to research and development.

An announcement follows ministerial visits to JLR headquarters and supplier Webasto, with ministers promising to keep working with industry leaders to get production back online and strengthen Britain’s automotive resilience.

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