Cybercriminals attack UK Research and Innovation | News | The Times

The government-funded body tasked with investing in science and research innovation across the UK has been targeted by cybercriminals who have encrypted some of its computer files.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has an annual budget of more than £6 billion, did not disclose who was behind the attack but said that the issue was being investigated by the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre.

It said that data had been “encrypted by a third party”, suggesting that it had been hit by a ransomware attack, in which criminals will lock access to a company’s files and demand money for their return.

The public body, which is funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said that details of