China suspected of hacking UK's Ministry of Defence
- In Reports
- 03:44 PM, May 07, 2024
- Myind Staff
Several media reports indicate that the UK's Ministry of Defence has been hacked, with suspicions pointing towards China. Thousands of British soldiers and veterans are believed to have had their details compromised. This development coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping's five-day tour of Europe, marking his first visit to the continent since 2019.
The hack was discovered within the past three days, as per The Sun's report. Sky News has indicated that there were at least two or three attempted hacks. The target was a payroll system containing the names of employees and veterans, resulting in the exposure of their names and bank details.
Additionally, The Telegraph reported that addresses have also been disclosed. Approximately 2,000 individuals are believed to have been affected.
The UK government is anticipated not to disclose the country responsible for the hacking, as per Sky News. The compromised system is reportedly not connected to the main computer system of the MoD. Following the incident, the system has been deactivated, and an investigation has been initiated.
According to The Telegraph, it is believed that the information of special forces personnel remains secure as it is stored on a separate system. While the MoD will ensure all salary payments are made, there may be delays in settling some expenses.
The defence officials, along with spies from GCHQ, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the offensive Cyber Force, as well as civilian contractors, are collaborating on resolving the issue.
Additionally, the MoD is in the process of recruiting personnel to investigate whether the compromised data is being sold or exposed on the dark web.
According to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to deliver a statement on Tuesday afternoon. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, a former soldier, suggested to Sky News that China might be targeting financially vulnerable individuals with the intention of coercing them in exchange for cash.
Government Minister Mel Stride told Sky News on Tuesday that China poses "an epoch-defining challenge," citing the 2021 Integrated Review of the UK’s national security and international policy. While Stride did not explicitly mention China by name, he emphasised the importance of striking a balance in the UK's approach towards Beijing.
He highlighted the need to safeguard security while acknowledging China's significant global economic role and the importance of its involvement in addressing issues like climate change.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated, "Any such hostile action is utterly unacceptable," in response to concerns raised by forces personnel targeted in the breach. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith emphasized the need for the UK government to acknowledge China's systemic threat and revise the integrated review accordingly.
Image source: The Guardians
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