MI5 warns universities on cyber spying

M15 UK

UK security services have warned universities to be more vigilant in protecting themselves against cyber attacks by foreign powers seeking to poach intellectual property at the frontier of science and technology, writes Helen Warrell for the Financial Times.

Vice-chancellors have been briefed by Sir Jonathan Evans, the outgoing head of MI5, while Universities UK, which represents the sector, is preparing to issue institutions guidance about how to ward off the cyber threat.

Security chiefs have believed for some time that state-sponsored attacks by countries such as China and Russia, often aimed at acquiring industrial and commercial secrets from British companies, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cyber crime is estimated to cost the UK about £27 billion (US$42 billion) a year, according to the Cabinet Office.