Cyber threats soar: BT identifies 2,000 attacks per second

Malicious scanning bots’ activity surged by 1,200% in July compared to the previous year, targeting various industries.
BT detects 2,000 potential cyber-attacks per second, with criminals using disposable bots to evade security measures.

BT has reported detecting 2,000 potential cyberattacks on its network every second. The rise is attributed to criminals deploying disposable ‘bots’ to bypass existing security measures.

In July, digital surveillance activity by hackers using malicious scanning bots surged by 1,200% compared to the previous year. The telecom giant revealed that these attacks are targeting a wide range of sectors, including retail, education, hospitality, defence, and financial services.

Tris Morgan, BT’s managing director of security, stated that hackers are probing connected devices every 90 seconds in their attempts to breach systems. However, this reflects a significant escalation in cyber threats.

At its Secure Tomorrow cybersecurity event, BT showcased its advanced quantum secure communications and AI-driven cyber defence technologies.