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ONS: 37% Increase in England & Wales’ Computer Misuse Cases
Computer misuse is defined by cases when fraudsters hack or use computer viruses or malware to disrupt services, obtain information illegally or extort individuals or organisations.
Recent data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), conducted by the Office for National Statistics, reveals an uptick in computer misuse.
The latest CSEW estimates show that only about 1 in 14 computer misuse offences are reported to the police or Action Fraud.
Since the CSEW began tracking computer misuse, there has been a general decline, from an estimated 1.8 million incidents in the year ending March 2017 to roughly 745,000 incidents by March 2023.
However, the year ending March 2024 saw a sharp 37% increase to one million incidents, driven largely by a 42% rise in unauthorised access to personal information, including hacking, which surged to 883,000 incidents.
Computer misuse is not only a concern for individuals but also for businesses and organisations. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 indicates that 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported experiencing some form of cybersecurity breach or attack in the past year.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which records computer misuse offences and refers those with solid investigative leads to the police, reported a 53% increase in offences referred by Action Fraud, rising from 26,604 to 40,832 for the year ending March 2024 compared to the previous year.
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“We’re at the beginning of a new, unpleasant era of cybercrime. The rapid rise of powerful technologies like AI and machine learning means the tactics used by fraudsters and adversaries are advancing. The risk is particularly high right now; 45% of UK businesses only have a basic understanding of powerful GenAI technologies.
“Additionally, a lack of specialised knowledge means nearly half (46%) of businesses have poor or limited understanding of the risks and security measures associated with GenAI.
“Getting to grips with the evolving threat landscape is a steep learning curve. Standardised risk education and training about the increasingly subtle warning signs of scams will be key. Meanwhile, advanced threat intelligence systems that constantly monitor behaviour and transactions for anything unusual can offer a robust first line of defence as cybercrime continues to evolve.”
