UK and US join forces to strike back in cyber-space

The US and UK are joining forces to "impose consequences" on their shared adversaries who conduct malicious cyber-activities.

The combined action would address "evolving threats with a full range of capabilities", they said.

The shared adversaries were not named but the announcement follows increasing concern over Russia-based ransomware.

The plan was discussed last week at an annual meeting of intelligence chiefs, in the US.

Gen Sir Patrick Sanders and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) director Sir Jeremy Fleming and US Cyber Command head Gen Paul Nakasone "reaffirmed" their commitment to jointly disrupt and deter new and emerging cyber-threats.

As democratic nations, the two countries were committed to carrying out proportionate and necessary operations within the law, they said.

"Our two nations today face strategic threats in an interconnected, digital world that seek to undermine our shared principles, norms, and values," they said.

"We agree that strategic engagement in cyber-space is crucial to defending our way of life, by addressing these evolving threats with a full range of capabilities.

"We will achieve this by planning enduring combined cyber-space operations that enable a collective defence and deterrence and impose consequences on our common adversaries who conduct malicious cyber-activity."