IT IS the £1.9 billion crusade forming the vanguard of Britain’s war against global cyber criminals.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, pictured inset left, has pledged to plough fresh investment into the escalating battle to tackle hackers threatening UK national security and that of individual citizens – including those in Hampshire.

The fears, seemingly the stuff of spy novels, come amid warnings of Russian-sponsored hackers, “rogue states” and other online threats seeking to target the UK’s infrastructure such as power grids and air traffic control, as well as trying to carry out industrial espionage.

But the global cyber criminals are much closer to home than you think – and could have already crept into your home.

Whether they are crooks trying to dupe you into handing over your banking details, mysterious strangers from distant lands promising to share their multimillion-pound fortunes with you or masquerading as the man or woman of your dreams on fake internet dating profiles, there are dangers at every click of your mouse.

Now experts are urging people to ensure they take robust measures so that they can stay a step ahead of the criminals.

Mr Hammond’s National Cyber Security Strategy is a five-year plan which includes strengthening the government’s defences and helping industry protect critical national infrastructure like transport networks and power stations.

But it also involves bringing together UK universities to improve the defences of smartphones, tablets and laptops – potentially making password protection obsolete – against hackers and phishers.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimate that there were 5.6 million fraud and computer misuse crimes in the 12 months up to the end of June 2016, but that many crimes go unreported.

Mr Hammond wants to make the UK the world’s most secure cyber environment and for the country to take advantage of the economic benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.

Ged Powell, pictured inset right, deputy director of the Southampton University Cyber Security Academy, welcomed the investment, but warned that more needs to be done to ensure the general public are aware of the dangers.

He said: “It’s clear that the criminals are out there.“There are well known hacks on large corporations which everybody knows about, but the majority of cyber crime goes on at a low level and never gets reported.“Attacks are evolving all the time – there is an arms war and the attacks are getting more and more sophisticated.

“We need to stay ahead of the attackers and people need to recognise that they need to protect themselves.

“The benefits of online banking and shopping is the ease with which it brings to our lives, but there are also responsibilities.

He said that criminals often gain access and steal data by using simple measures where people have failed to protect themselves properly.

He added: “You wouldn’t leave your wallet on the bus and expect all the money to be left in it and it is the same with leaving your computer unprotected.

“We need more awareness and education about the dangers, right the way from junior school all the way up to university.”

“Even the world’s best can slip up and you can’t be too complacent.”

Action Fraud is the national reporting service for fraud and cyber crime.

Police National Coordinator for Economic Crime Chris Greany, said: “The huge financial loss to cybercrime hides the often harrowing human stories that destroy lives and blights every community in the UK. All of us need to ask ourselves are we doing everything we can to protect ourselves from online criminals.

“Unfortunately, people still click on links in unsolicited emails and fail to update their security software. Just as you wouldn’t leave your door unlocked, so you shouldn’t leave yourself unprotected online.”

* For details or to report fraud, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or see actionfraud.police.uk To report fraud contact 0300 123 2040 or visit the Action Fraud website.