The UK government has ruled out introducing new anti-cyber crime laws, but could employ hackers as part of its new cyber security strategy released today.
A boost to Ministry Defence spending and a one-stop shop for reporting cyber crime are stars of the new policy, but courts will be encouraged "to use existing powers to impose appropriate online sanctions for online offences," according to the report.
Cyber crime will be handled by a single specialist group handled - the new National Crime Agency (NCA) - which will include
"those with specialist skills" to back up police. Otherwise known as good-guy hackers.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "While the internet is undoubtedly a force for social and political good, as well as crucial to the growth of our economy, we need to protect against the threats to our security. This strategy not only deals with the threat from terrorists to our national security, but also with the criminals who threaten our prosperity as well as blight the lives of many ordinary people through cyber crime.
Francis Maude MP, Minister for Cyber Security reinforced William Hague's position on an open web unhindered by government intervention saying "As we saw this spring in the Arab world, it can help give the unheard a voice and hold governments to account. It will have a huge role to play in supporting sustainable development in poorer countries."
Personal and business fraud, identity theft, the exploitation of children and crimes against businesses and government services are the focus of the strategy.
The report highlights that cyber crime is a growing problem in the UK - nearly two-thirds of critical infrastructure companies report regularly finding malware designed to sabotage their systems according to McAfee.
The report also identified ‘Patriotic’ hackers as a threat against the UK's military and national infrastructure, saying that cyber warfare is a very real possibility during times of conflict.
The UK will seek out and prosecute international cyber criminals under the Budapest Convention on cyber crime. Russia, a major source of malware, has not ratified the protocol, rendering its powers useless against the growing threat from hackers there.