NatWest faces 100 million cyber attacks every month
NatWest is bombarded with 100 million cyber attacks every month, the UK bank's head of cyber security has revealed.
0
Chris Ulliott told Members of the Scottish Parliament that hackers are constantly probing NatWest's defences, according to the Press Association.
The bank blocks around a third of the millions of emails it receives every month "because they are believed to be the start of an attack against our staff".
To deal with the constant barrage, NatWest has hundreds of cybersecurity employees and a budget of millions of pounds.
The situation is likely to get more complicated with the rise of artificial technology, Ulliott told MSPs.
He also speculated that Scattered Spider, the gang believed to be behind the recent attack on Marks & Spencer, is probably a loose international group in their teens and 20s who are sharing ideas on online forums.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
44 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Armed officer sues Police Scotland over suspension after TikTok Tallia Storm incident
Steven Jones is taking Police Scotland to court after being suspended over an incident involving singer Tallia Storm. A firearms officer is taking legal action against Police Scotland alleging he was unfairly suspended after footage of an "incident" was shared on TikTok. Steven Jones, 35, appeared before an employment tribunal in Edinburgh on Monday, June 9, where he is suing the force for sex discrimination. Mr Jones claims his actions were unfairly labelled 'misogynistic' and that he was penalised due to Police Scotland management's concerns about the armed response unit being seen as having a 'boys' club mentality'. The tribunal heard that the incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when a video posted by Scottish singer Tallia Storm showed Mr Jones and his colleague stepping out of their marked police vehicle on Edinburgh's Cowgate to take a photo with her. In the footage, Mr Jones can be seen taking the picture while his partner poses with Storm, reports EdinburghLive. Mr Jones told the tribunal he was later 'chastised' by senior officers who described his conduct as 'misogynistic' and criticised him for stopping in a busy pedestrian and traffic area. He said the force reacted negatively due to public backlash over the video. He believes he was treated unfairly because of 'past instances of misogyny' involving other officers in the firearms unit, and that his own actions were wrongly framed in that context. He told the tribunal: "Because of the word 'misogyny,' it made me feel it was because I as a male interacting with a female that it was viewed through that lens. If a member of the other sex had that interaction, it wouldn't have happened." His solicitor, Mr Merck, referenced a previous high-profile case involving female firearms officer Rhona Malone, who received nearly £1 million in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled she had been victimised by the force on the basis of her sex. Mr Jones believes that case influenced how his own behaviour was judged. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He said: "It really surprised me. I was extremely upset and shocked because I knew I had to disclose to my partner what I had been accused of and explain to my family." At the time of the incident, Mr Jones and his colleague were on "parliament duty," patrolling areas around the Scottish Parliament including the Cowgate and Grassmarket. While driving through Cowgate, they encountered a large crowd and slowed the vehicle. Mr Jones said he then recognised Tallia Storm in the crowd. "I knew who she was due to the publicity and her being the Capital DJ host at the time. She was on the side of trams and buses," he said. He and his partner left the vehicle — which held secured firearms — for what he estimated to be about a minute, possibly less. Mr Jones claimed the singer was "ecstatic" about the photo opportunity and added: "There was no rude behaviour or catcalling. I present myself courteously and was calm in the situation. We engaged in conversation to ascertain that a Q&A was being held. It looked like she was making her way over. We very quickly introduced ourselves, it was a polite interaction." He said that throughout the encounter, they ensured their police vehicle remained secure. Despite this, Mr Jones was later suspended — a sanction he believes was disproportionate. He told the tribunal: "It is our job to engage with people. We don't police with fear, we police by good interactions with the public. The last thing I'd ever want is the public to fear the police and to fear me. I always speak to people as a human being. I meet them where they are." Mr Jones joined Police Scotland in March 2017 and completed his authorised firearms officer training in June 2023. He told the tribunal he had ambitions of becoming a national firearms instructor and had been encouraged to apply for a role in counterterrorism. But since the incident, he says he has been demoted to a desk-based role, handling "low-level daily calls" — a stark contrast to his previous work dealing with "very high risk incidents" and high-stakes decision making within the firearms unit. The five-day tribunal, overseen by Employment Judge Amanda Jones, continues.
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh institution Ali's Cave to close after 44 years
An Edinburgh institution which has been serving locals for more than four decades has announced it will close its doors for the final time this summer. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ali's Cave is one of the Scottish capital's largest independent stores and is a one stop shop for household, DIY and seasonal products. The family-run business arrived at Lothian Road in 1988 and has been a familiar sight to anyone that has lived in the capital since. But with recent years seeing a decline in footfall owing to changes to shopping habits and neighbouring offices relocating to different parts of the city, the owners behind one of Lothian Road's flagship shops have made the difficult decision to close in August. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Father and son, Anwar and Adnan Ulhaq have announced their legendary Edinburgh shop, Ali's Cave will close in the summer | NW Speaking to the Evening News, Anwar Ulhaq, who founded the business with his brothers, said: 'It is with a sad heart that we're having to close the doors. 'I'll miss coming in and seeing regular faces and this will be an emotional time, but everything moves on I suppose. Life changes and you've got to move on, but I will miss the conversations with the customers. 'Business trends have changed and the customer flow has decreased in the city centre. We used to depend a lot on office workers and I think that's the same for a lot of the trade in this area in city. But with fewer workers coming into the financial district, that has made it difficult for us to survive.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The family opened their first Edinburgh shop in South Bridge in 1981, before relocating to a larger venue in Lothian Road seven years later, where it became one of the city's most well-known shops. Ali's Cave first opened in Edinburgh's South Bridge in 1981. The shop name derived fro Anwar's father's name, Ahmed Ali Recalling the early days at South Bridge, the 67-year-old said: 'We wanted to provide a service for the local community so we could help them as much with all the products that they need for everyday use. We tried to provide value for money. 'We were so successful at Southbridge we thought we needed another unit and Lothian Road looked like the right site. Lothian Road was a lot quieter at that time - Earl Grey Street was mostly empty apart from Goldbergs at the back - but it was still good enough to trade and it got a lot busier later on.' Anwar's son and fellow co-owner, Adnan Ulhaq, said: 'I always wanted to carry on our family business because this shop has meant so much to so many people and means so much to our family. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We know a lot of regulars, including one lady called Charlotte who is 104 years-old and has lived in Grindlay Street her whole life. Customers like her become a part of the fabric to us and part of our family. 'The banter and rapport we have with the elderly is fantastic because while we may speak to a lot of people every day, we might be the only people they speak to every day so we always make them feel special. I think it's very important and I think that's why a lot of our customers keep coming back to us. 'The strength of Ali's Cave has seen us survive the recession in the 1980s, the 2008 crisis and Covid - we were always able to act very quickly on what our customers wanted. But due to the downturn in office workers coming in, with Standard Life being closed at the moment, with Aberdeen Asset being closed, with Capital House becoming a Premier Inn - there's a lot of empty offices in Edinburgh's financial hub at the moment. I think that has played a part in helping us make the decision to close down. Ali's Cave is set to close in early August, with the popular shop offering a 50 per cent discount on all products starting next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sharing a final message to their loyal customers, Adnan said: 'Thank you very much for all the support over the years. You've made a small family feel very appreciated. As a small business we feel very fortunate to have built so many relationships throughout the community.'
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Seed potato farmers left in limbo after EU trade deal reached
Seed potato farmers in Scotland say they need to know 'sooner rather than later' when they can resume exporting their products to the EU. In March, a political agreement between Europe and the UK was reached after crops were banned post-Brexit, which farmers say cost the industry tens of millions of pounds. Scotland's seed potatoes are exported worldwide, but until recently, farmers haven't been able to sell them into the EU. The multi-million pound industry says a clear timeline is needed quickly if they're to make the most of the agreement. Farmer Robert Doig told STV News: 'We lost all our European market in Brexit, it went to zero…for those doing business with the EU it was sort of a catastrophe. 'But the EU seed still came in so we lost our market and had another one coming in. 'The seed potato industry has contracted a little bit.' He says the details of the deal need to come sooner rather than later. Farmers now predominantly export seed potatoes into North Africa, with Egypt and Morocco the largest export markets. Scott Walker, chief executive of GB Potatoes, said: 'This has been extremely welcome. 'The timing of those details is important to allow farmers to meet the EU's demand.' NFU Scotland president Andrew Connon said last month: 'This agreement marks a welcome shift towards reducing the red tape and costs that have frustrated Scottish farmers and food exporters for years. 'While details are still emerging, anything that helps restore smoother trade with our largest export market is a positive step.' He added: 'The devil will be in the detail. We need to ensure this works across all sectors – from livestock to seed potatoes and delivers real benefits on the ground. 'The principle of the deal is dynamic alignment with EU policy, but we need to understand what the exceptions might be and how this might work in practice.' The UK Government say the specifics of the deal will be decided on in the coming months. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
