‘State-sponsored terrorism’ and cyber attacks to cause food shortages, Streeting says – The Independent

‘State-sponsored terrorism’ and cyber attacks to cause food shortages, Streeting says  The Independent

Ministers issue ‘be ready’ checklist as governments and companies worldwide take websites offline after alert over widespread cyber-security issue Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Britons should prepare for food shortages if “state-sponsored terrorism” disrupts everyday life, the defence secretary has said in a stark new warning on the “real” threats facing the UK. People need to start to stockpile food, water, medicine and wind-up radios, Wes Streeting said, raising the spectre of hostile powers launching cyber attacks on key infrastructure. Such attacks could wreck supply chains or make businesses’ payment systems fail, he said, while natural risks such as flooding and wildfires also pose a threat.

Speaking at the official opening of Gun Hall, a new tank gun barrel factory, in Telford, Shropshire, Mr Streeting said people should ask themselves whether they were prepared for the consequences of “increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks on our businesses”. He said: “Are they prepared for the eventuality that there may be disruption to essential supply chains caused by hostile state actors or terrorists?” he asked. “How would we cope if the payment systems of the supermarkets went down? “Those are the sorts of everyday challenges and threats we could well face, and it is right we ask the country to be ready