King Charles warns that online threats are getting more dangerous

King Charles III has sent a warning about growing dangers online, saying that bad actors are using new tools to spread false information and launch cyber attacks. He wrote a letter to the National Cyber Security Centre, known as the NCSC, to mark its 10th anniversary. The King said that people with harmful plans keep changing how they operate by using automated technologies. He believes strong cybersecurity is key to keeping the internet safer for everyone.

In his letter, published on Saturday, King Charles praised the NCSC for the work it has done over the past decade. He said the agency has defended the country against cyber attacks, protected democratic institutions, and kept safe the critical infrastructure that people rely on every day — things like power grids, hospitals, and water systems. The King also said he was 'acutely aware' that much of the agency's most important work has to remain secret. He expressed 'profound gratitude' for the sacrifices the staff make without being able to share credit publicly.

The King also spoke about the risks of artificial intelligence, or AI. Last month, he met with AI executives at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, to talk about how this powerful technology could be used to help — or harm — people around the world. He warned the executives that some people inside the tech industry are saying AI could develop 'darker capacities' if it is not properly controlled. He said there is an urgency to think carefully about what could happen if these technologies ended up in the wrong hands.

King Charles told the group that their job is bigger than just building new technology. He said they must make sure AI always serves people, communities, and the natural world — not the other way around. His words came after a wave of warnings from tech leaders about the fast-growing power of advanced AI systems. World leaders and experts are still debating what kinds of rules, or regulations, are needed to keep these systems safe.

Meanwhile, a major cyber attack made global headlines this week. Hackers broke into systems connected to the online clothing store Asos and sent a pop-up notification to potentially millions of its customers through the company's own app. The NCSC offered help to Asos after the breach was discovered. Asos said it is investigating unauthorised activity involving third-party platforms that connect to its services.

The situation became even more serious when BBC News told Asos that it had been contacted by the cyber criminals themselves. The hackers claimed that they had stolen much more than just basic contact details. Asos confirmed that the stolen information may include customers' names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, customer numbers, and dates of birth. The company urged its customers to stay alert and watch out for any suspicious messages or activity linked to their accounts.