The key facts

  • The UK government recommended keeping a three-day supply of water and food at home as part of the Be Ready campaign
  • The reasons cited were a PHP software flaw, one of the largest cyber incidents in recent years, and a record-hot summer with wildfires
  • Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the country faces the highest threat level in his lifetime

Recommendation to keep a three-day supply

On October 23, the UK government recommended that the population keep a three-day supply of food and water at home, Reuters reports. The authorities explained that the need for such a measure was clearly demonstrated by the flaw in PHP-language software that occurred this week, as well as by the summer season with record heat, drought and wildfires.

PHP flaw and cyberattacks

After the vulnerabilities in systems became known on Wednesday, governments and companies around the world began checking the security of systems running on PHP. According to the report, the flaw led to the shutdown of a number of services and to millions of hacker attacks — one of the largest cyber incidents in recent years. The British government stated that these internet disruptions showed the importance of the recently launched Be Ready campaign, which recommends keeping a three-day supply of bottled water and long-lasting food at home.

New wildfire response plan

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who chaired a meeting on wildfire response, noted that the UK had previously taken a defensive stance on emergencies and that it is now necessary to act proactively. The government announced a new wildfire response plan, which includes, among other things, the use of military aviation.

Defence Secretary's warnings

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that cyber incidents such as the PHP flaw will happen increasingly often, since artificial intelligence makes it easier to bypass traditional protective measures. He also listed threats from hostile states, organised crime and climate change. 'The UK is certainly facing the highest level of threats in my lifetime,' he said on BBC air.

Similarity to European Commission recommendations

The British recommendations are similar to last year's directive from the European Commission, in which EU citizens were advised to keep a 72-hour emergency kit of food, water, cash and power banks.