A new rating system in the U.K. will classify the severity of cyberattacks on a scale from one to five, aiming to provide businesses and policymakers with more precise insights into the impact of cyber threats. The Cyber Monitoring Centre, an independent nonprofit organisation of industry experts, will assess incidents in real time and publish results for free. The system is designed to be easily understood, similar to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, which categorises hurricanes based on sustained wind speed. A score of one on the CMC scale represents the least severe incidents, while a five indicates the most serious cyberattacks. Only events that impact multiple organisations and result in financial losses exceeding £100 million will receive a rating. The U.K. has experienced a surge in high-profile hacking events over the past year, including ransomware incidents targeting the British Library, supermarkets Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, and pathology company Synnovis, which disrupted the NHS operations. In December, the head of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre warned that the country’s cyber risks are “widely underestimated.” SEE: 99% …