A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of International Cyber Expo has revealed that a significant majority of Britons believe that cyber warfare is the next frontier in modern combat. The research was conducted amongst 2,000 nationally representative UK respondents.
Despite the UK government’s substantial investment in traditional military forces, the public’s perception is that the next battlefield will be in cyberspace. Over 70% of respondents believe that cyber warfare is likely to be the next step in modern combat, with more than half seeing it as a combination of physical and cyber tactics. Only 5% of the public believe that cyber warfare will never replace physical warfare.
The research also found that 1 in 20 Britons believe that we’re already in the midst of a ‘cyber war’. Amid escalating geopolitical tensions worldwide, nearly a third (31%) of the British public admitted to feeling “scared” about the prospect of cyber warfare.
The survey also delved into the public’s fears surrounding cybercrime. Cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure emerged as the most significant concern, followed by nation-state activities, the use of AI in online scams, and disinformation. The recent cyberattack on Synnovis, which disrupted NHS services across the UK, highlighted the real-world consequences of such attacks.
The full list of fears that keep the UK public up at night include:
- Cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure (54%)
- Nation state activities (43%)
- The use of AI in online scams (33%)
- Disinformation swaying global politics (31%)
- Cyber warfare (31%)
- Deepfake (21%)
- Phishing emails (15%)
- Social engineering (12%)
- Fake ads/giveaways (12%)
- Criminal activity doesn’t scare me (6%)
Tarquin Folliss, Vice Chairman of SASIG, emphasised the growing threat posed by cyber warfare: “Cyberspace is the perfect grey zone between war and peace. State and non-state actors can operate in this ambiguous and frequently anonymised domain more aggressively and with greater risk appetite than they would in the physical world. The danger of miscalculation is consequently far more heightened.”
Folliss continues: “So, the public is right to worry about conflict in cyberspace and where it could lead. Cyberwarfare, however, is unlikely to develop as an independent capability or effect. The weaponisation of cyberspace will continue to evolve as one component of the armoury that governments can call on to prosecute war.”
As geopolitical tensions escalate, the threat of cyber warfare becomes increasingly real. The survey findings underscore the need for increased awareness, preparedness, and investment in cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure and national security.
