It’s the Online Jungle! Grylls attacked by cyber beasts

BEAR GRylls is used to fighting off poisonous snakes and wrestling alligators, but the television adventurer is now facing a very modern predator — computer hackers.

I can reveal the Chief scout, who counts the Duchess of Cambridge among his friends, has been targeted by sophisticated cyber attackers trying to steal from him and damage his reputation and business.

The former Tory MP’s son, who has attracted big names including former U.s. President Barack Obama and Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Ben stiller to appear on his show Running Wild With Bear Grylls, has been forced to bring in new security specialists to protect his television company, Natural studios Productions.

Details of the attacks are confirmed in a newly published report, which lists the risks and uncertainties facing his business. ‘The group is subject to increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks aimed at causing business disruption, capturing data for financial gain and reputational damage,’ it says. ‘The group has strengthened controls and defences around this area of risk including additional security levels applied to IT systems, and remains vigilant to the increasing threat.’ Details were confirmed as the Eton-educated star, who once circumnavigated Britain on jet skis and crossed the Atlantic on a rigid inflatable dinghy, said the pandemic wiped £5.1 million from the value of his company. It saw earnings tumble from £8.3 million to £3.2million and profits shrink £7.5 million to £1.8 million over the course of last year.

The previous year it had paid out dividends of more than £5million, but there was no such windfall this year.

However, Grylls, 47, did receive payment of £405,000 in his role as a director.