No bombs, just a message? Fake nuclear alerts in Russia and Ukraine raise questions for UK security

Fears are growing that hackers could exploit Britain’s emergency warning systems to spread fake nuclear attack alerts and trigger mass panic across the country. The concerns follow cyberattacks that disrupted emergency communication systems in Russia and Ukraine, sending bogus warnings of nuclear and chemical attacks to millions of people through official apps, government channels and mobile text messages. In Russia, people in Moscow and other regions reportedly received alerts claiming nuclear warheads were heading towards their areas. Ukrainian hackers were suspected of being behind some of the Russian alerts, but those responsible have not been identified. Cybersecurity analyst Keir Giles warned that similar attacks could target NATO countries, including the UK, and expose weaknesses in Britain’s civil defence preparations.