Al Qaida is intent on using the internet to launch a cyber-warfare campaign against the UK, ministers have revealed.
Terrorist groups, which already use the internet for recruitment, propaganda and communication purposes, want to turn it into a dangerous weapon.
Security Minister Lord West issued the warning as he published the Government's new Cyber Security Strategy aimed at heading off online threats.
As well as potential cyber-attacks from terrorists, the UK faces a real and growing threat from foreign governments such as China and Russia, and from organised criminal gangs, he said. Targets include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments.
As part of attempts to beef up defences, a new Office for Cyber Security will be set up to co-ordinate Government policy.
Another new development will see the creation of a "cyber-forensics" team based at GCHQ, the Government's eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The Cyber Security Operations Centre will constantly monitor, analyse and counter cyber attacks as they happen.
Lord West said the terrorists' capability to launch attacks was something he believed "will develop" in future.
"We know terrorists use the internet for radicalisation and things like that at the moment, but there is a fear they will move down that path (of cyber attacks). As their ability to use the web and the net grows, there will be more opportunity for these attacks.
He confirmed that the UK Government has already faced cyber attacks from foreign states such as Russia and China. But he denied that hackers had successfully broken into Government systems and stolen secret information.
He also said he could not deny that the Government has its own online attack capability, but he refused to say whether it had ever been used.
