1 November 2017 — A new EU framework will allow members to decipher and declare certain cyber-attacks as acts of war, justifying a response with conventional weapons.

The National Audit Office has published a report investigating the NHS’s response to the WannaCry cyber-attack. The report concluded that the attack was, “relatively unsophisticated” but that poor management and communication within the NHS meant that the extent of damage and disruption could have been prevented…

25 October 2017 — The EU’s Security Commissioner, Sir Julian King has suggested that technology companies could become subject to EU wide legislation to mandate the removal of extremist content online.

The UK’s highest intelligence court will decide whether GCHQ has collected and monitored data from millions of British citizens and shared it with foreign governments without adequate protections in place…

18 October 2017 — A security expert from Belgian university KU Leuven, Mathy Vanhoef, has found a security flaw that leaves nearly all devices that support WI-FI vulnerable to hacking. Cybersecurity teams across the world are examining these vulnerabilities. 

The UK and Canada have committed to working collaboratively to strengthen digital government developments in both countries. They plan to provide better services, teach children how to code, share information and promote open data and standards to tackle issues of cybersecurity…

11 October 2017 — The UK government has introduced an Internet Safety Strategy green paper as part of a consultation of industry and academics to consider a number of issues, relating to cyber security, internet safety, and digital privacy.

10 countries spanning three continents have signed a document at the CyberSec European Cybersecurity Forum in Krakow with the intent of strengthening collaboration on cyber security across the world. Combining their wealth of knowledge and expertise they aim to set the standard on cyber security threats…

4 October 2017 — Ireland’s high court have referred a data transfer case between Facebook and activist Max Schrems to the European Court of Justice, in a potential test for the future of the EU-US Privacy Shield.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has reported over 1000 incidents of cyber security attacks in its first year. A large proportion of the attacks were deemed serious enough to require a cross government response…

27 September 2017 — techUK and the US Chamber of Commerce have held a roundtable event to discuss the impact of cybersecurity regulations in the UK and U.S.

Ian Levy, Technical Director at the National Cyber Security Centre, has suggested that a tier one level cyberattack is expected within the next few years. In order to combat the disaster of such an attack, Levy has called on the government to specify how it will plan and resource its response to such a cyberattack…

20 September 2017 — The European Union, following Jean-Claude Juncker’s earlier speech, is ramping up its cybersecurity with a number of new proposals. A new certification scheme will aim to verify different services and products as safe to operate.

Matt Hancock, the British Minister for Digital, gave a speech at the Singapore international Cyber Week. He highlighted the chance for both nations to deepen their relationship on cybersecurity and to adapt to the changing global internet…

13 September 2017 — EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has announced a raft of new cybersecurity proposals as part of a significant overhaul of the EU’s existing systems.

The UK Government has expressed its interest in continuing its cooperation with the EU on cybersecurity after it has left the EU. Specifically the UK wishes to remain a member of ENISA, CSIRT and the NIS cooperation group…

6 September 2017 — Andrus Ansip, the European Commission’s Vice President in charge of digital issues has criticised CERT teams across the EU, saying that only half are truly capable of defending their national networks. His comments come days before the expected publication of a raft of new EU cybersecurity proposals.

President of the International Cyber Threat Task  Force (ICCTF) Paul C Dwyer, has called on the UK and Irish governments to form a special task force to deal with the cybersecurity issues facing Irish citizens as part of the UK’s termination its of EU membership…

30 August 2017 — The Greek Government have called on the EU to increase the funding and responsibilities of ENISA the EU’s cybersecurity agency based in Athens.

As part of the UK’s negotiations to leave the EU, the Government has produced a position paper calling for the EU to agree to an adequacy agreement on data protection once the UK’s membership of the EU expires…

23 August 2017 — Ukraine’s central bank has warned state and private lenders of the risk of further malware attacks, following an announcement by Ukrainian Security Services that the country continues to face the risk of a major cyber attack.

The results of the UK Government’s latest cyber governance health check has found that senior management boards for UK businesses and charities require further work to protect themselves from cyber threats…

16 August 2017 — The former head of the UK’s MI5 espionage agency has stated that the Government’s plans to increase law enforcement access to encrypted messaging services would do greater damage to the UK’s economy and wider interests.

Google have published a new website detailing how the internet giant will seek to comply with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations when they are introduced next year…

9 August 2017 — The UK government has issued new cybersecurity guidelines to ensure manufacturers of smart internet connected vehicles better protect their products from cyber attacks.

A new report from Ireland’s state-owned power grid suggests that the country has had its energy network compromised by state sponsored hackers after the Vodafone systems that support the network were found to have been breached…

2 August 2017 — ENISA has this week called upon the EU to expand its remit as it aims to take a leading role in the bloc’s emerging cybersecurity programme.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the data sharing agreement between the EU and Canada violates the EU’s data privacy protections, in a ruling similar to that which derailed the US-EU Safe Harbour in 2015.

In the US a bipartisan alliance of Senators has launched new legislation to increase security standards for IoT devices…

26 July 2017 — EU Commissions Vice-President Andrus Ansip has announced new plans to develop a cybersecurity centre to promote cybersecurity technology and skills across the EU.

The USA and Japan have continued to develop cybersecurity dialogue as the two countries move closer to cooperation in tackling major cyberattacks.

President Donald Trump’s administration have endorsed the FCC’s attempts to repeal net neutrality rules implemented under the Obama administration.

A new study by the Hong Kong Productivity Council has found that small and medium sized enterprises have managed to survive a spate of recent cyberattacks, bolstering their support for continued digitisation in Hong Kong…