UK warns AI ransomware attack on infrastructure ‘highly likely’ by 2028

The warning comes as UK cyber officials also flag growing threats from state-backed hackers targeting government officials and politicians.

AI-powered malware is highly likely to be used in a ransomware attack targeting UK critical national infrastructure by 2028, the country’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned. 

The assessment, published in the NCSC’s Annual Review 2026, says artificial intelligence will increase the scale and efficiency of ransomware operations, social engineering and vulnerability exploitation.

“It is also highly likely that between now and 2028, AI-powered malware will have been used in a ransomware attack on UK CNI,” the report states.

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