NCSC ramps up support for those at high risk of cyber attacks ahead of election

Political candidates, election officials and others at high risk of being targeted online have been given access to unparalleled new support from the UK’s cyber experts to help boost their digital security.

The National Cyber Security Centre – a part of GCHQ – has announced a new cyber defence service which will help prevent individuals falling foul of spear-phishing, malware attacks and other cyber threats.

The new Personal Internet Protection service provides an extra layer of security on personal devices by warning users if they try to visit a domain which the NCSC knows to be malicious and by blocking outgoing traffic to these domains.

The opt-in service, forms part of a wider package of cyber support on offer ahead of the next general election to individuals and organisations that play an important role in our democracy.

This follows the government’s announcements in recent months of attempts by the Russian Intelligence Services and China state-affiliated actors to carry out malicious activity targeting UK institutions and individuals, including parliamentarians.

To coincide with CYBERUK, the NCSC and international partners from five other countries have also produced new advice for civil society groups, whose work advancing democratic values puts them under threat of transnational repression by state-sponsored actors.