GCHQ are rolling out plans to create a national firewall which will potentially block malicious websites from all UK home computers.
The spy agency said that cyber-attacks have doubled in the past year, but that the creation of the ambitious system may help tack the problem.
The new software would take the form of a filtering scheme for national domain name systems, and that broadband providers including BT and Virgin would be encouraged to administer the filtering.
GCHQ’s director-general for cybersecurity, Ciaran Martin said yesterday: ‘We’re exploring a flagship project on scaling up DNS filtering. What better way of providing automated defences at scale than by the major private providers effectively blocking their customers from coming into contact with known malware and bad addresses?’
Mr Martin will head up The National Cyber Security Centre, which opens next month, and he revealed that the ambitious new scheme is already being trialled, reported The Times.
Hackers have been prevented from spoofing sites with the government domain name, it was revealed.
Malware that is inadvertently installed from trusted websites is one of the most prevalent cyber attacks.
Earlier this year Ministers urged greater protection against cyber crime, after a survey found two-thirds of large businesses suffered an attack or security breach in the past year.
People who are worried about their civil liberties will be allowed to opt out of the firewall, Mr Martin revealed.
