NCC notes marked rise in hack attacks from US, China and Russia

Information security specialists NCC Group have noted a steep rise in the number of hack attacks originating from the US, China and Russia.

The firm's second quarter Origins of Hacks report tracked the number and source of unauthorised network access attempts across the world between April and June.

Its findings revealed that the US was responsible for 49 million more attacks during Q2, compared to January and March.

The country was the source of 22.5 per cent of all hacks during Q2, which is up from 17.4 per cent in the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, China was blamed for 15.8 per cent of all network attempts and Russia for 13.3 per cent. During Q1, those nations had been respectively traced as the source in 13.7 and 12.4 per cent of attacks.

However, while all three countries in the top three reported an upswing in the number of attacks traced back to them, the UK slipped from seventh to ninth place between Q1 and Q2 with just 2.1 per cent.

Rob Cotton, chief executive of NCC Group, said the results suggest the top three may have stepped up their malicious activity or detection methods have improved.

He also called on the infosecurity industry to join forces in the fight against cybercrime.

"We are calling for greater openness, with mandatory rules of disclosure for organisations that suffer data breaches, and greater collaboration between different nations and different businesses," said Cotton.

"This should be the foundation from which to shore up defences and prepare our infrastructures in the fight against cybercrime."