Reported by IT Pro. The United Kingdom military is deploying specialized cybersecurity hunt forces overseas to physically track and disrupt cyber criminals targeting British military systems.
The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, established last year with over 700 personnel, is now operating forward of domestic networks. Maj. Gen. Mike Fayers, the commander, stated that military teams are being dispatched to countries across Europe and Asia to identify threats before they escalate. These deployments occur only with the host nation's agreement and target both state actors and independent criminals. The shift toward proactive defense is driven by the rapid speed of AI-enabled attacks, which now require responses within minutes rather than days. These teams possess expertise in defensive cybersecurity and electromagnetic warfare to protect military communications. Experts note that this strategy is essential, as cyber threats are often prepared over months through reconnaissance and hidden malware. The initiative highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare, where digital threats frequently target critical infrastructure. Officials warn that malicious code may already reside within sensitive systems, necessitating increased vigilance across both the public and private sectors to prevent significant disruption to essential services and national security.
Source: IT Pro
