New sanctions to treat cyber attack hackers like terrorists

JEREMY Hunt yesterday hailed the introduction of sanctions that mean cyber criminals are treated like terrorists.

The Foreign Secretary said the new regime, promoted by the UK and Netherlands, was a ‘decisive’ moment in the fight against cyber attacks as it was formally signed off in Brussels.

Deterrents include asset freezes and travel bans.

Mr Hunt suggested the Government is already drawing up a list of those facing sanctions, as the new powers can be applied retrospectively.

It means Britain could go after individuals behind campaigns such as the crippling cyber attack on the NHS in March 2017, which cost it £92million and led to thousands of appointments being cancelled.

For an individual or entity to be placed on the sanctions list it would have to be proved that an attack had a ‘significant’ effect or ‘potentially significant’ effect.

Mr Hunt said: ‘This is decisive action to deter future cyberattacks. We must now look to impose travel bans and asset freezes against those we know have been responsible.’