Firms face fines if they’re hacked

AIRLINES, electricity firms and broadband providers could face multi-millionpound fines if they fail to take measures to prevent cyber attacks that result in major disruption to services.

Under Government plans to be announced today, companies will be hit with financial penalties of up to £17million, or 4 per cent of global turnover, if they cannot show they adequately assessed the risk of threats to their computer systems, including hacking.

Ministers said the fines, which will be set out as part of a consultation, would only be used as a ‘last resort’ and affect utilities, transport, health and digital infrastructure providers.