Brexit will make the UK more vulnerable to cybercrime

The likelihood of the United Kingdom exiting the European Union will put a huge strain on agencies tasked with protecting citizens, businesses and government entities from cyberattacks, said security experts.

Assuming a Brexit does take place — and many are still hoping it will not — expect a rise in hacktivism, a reduction in tech talent, a decrease in information-sharing and increase in regulatory complexity, at least for the foreseeable future, they said.

Hackers thrive in environments of chaos and uncertainty, and the political and economic turmoil the UK finds itself in presents an opportunity.

"Cyberspace is one place where people vent their steam and take action with relatively few risks of consequences," said Stephen Cobb, Senior Security Researcher at ESET.
It is already happening. On Monday, hackers hijacked an online petition calling for a second EU referendum, erroneously adding more than 77,000 votes (which have since been removed.)

And even as armies of malicious hackers add to their ranks, cybersecurity experts are in short supply globally. The UK has been a foothold for international firms looking for an entree to Europe, and uncertainty around how Brexit will impact work visas for non-UK residents could dampen its appeal, said Bill Ho, CEO of secure communications provider Biscom.

Technical skills are always in high demand around the world, and it's no different in the UK – Brexit will have a negative impact on firms trying to bring on smart people who may not reside in the UK."

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