Watch out for hackers, Britain’s spy agency tells smart cities

Some cities around the world have already suffered from crippling hacks. — 123rf.com

Cities embracing technology to improve urban life risk falling prey to hackers, Britain’s cybersecurity agency warned on May 7, urging local authorities to ensure smart cities are armed with digital defences.

Criminals and foreign governments can target technologies deployed to improve city services such as sensors and Internet-connected devices to steal sensitive data and cause disruption, said Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).