UK to set up “Cyber Reserve” force to counter cyber crime

The UK government plans to set up a "Cyber Reserve" force to counter security threats posed by cyber crime.

The task force under the Ministry of Defence, would allow the armed forces to "draw on the wider talent and skills of the nation in the cyber field".

The value of internet-related business in the UK has been estimated at £82 billion a year.

According to minister Francis Maude, though help was needed with "critical" work in combating online crime, the details would be available only next year.

Computer systems in the UK were on the list of targets of terrorists, fraudsters, rogue states and individual activists, who were among the criminals targeting computer systems in the UK.

The minister said in a written statement that 93 per cent and 76 per cent of small businesses had reported a cyber breach in the past year.