HomeWorldReport: China suspected in cyberattack on UK defence ministry - Times of...

Report: China suspected in cyberattack on UK defence ministry – Times of India

Published on

spot_img



LONDON: The names and bank details of thousands of serving British soldiers, sailors and air force members have been exposed in a data breach by a “malign actor” who may have had state help, defence officials said Tuesday. The ministry of defence said the breach occurred at a third-party payroll system holding bank details of as many as 272,000 serving armed forces personnel and recent veterans.In a few cases, addresses may also have been exposed.
Defence secretary Grant Shapps said officials had “immediately taken the system offline” and launched an investigation into the breach and possible failings by the contractor, SSCL, which describes itself as “the largest provider of critical business support services for govt.” “We cannot rule out state involvement,” Shapps told lawmakers in the House of Commons, though he said the govt did not yet have evidence to make that conclusion. Shapps did not confirm reports by Sky News and the BBC that Chinese hackers are suspected of carrying out the cyberattack. “For reasons of national security, we can’t release further details of the suspected cyber activity behind this incident,” he said.
Labour Party defence spokesman John Healey asked why “the media has clearly been briefed that China was behind” the attack if the govt wasn’t prepared to say so.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs, when asked about the reports, said it opposed all forms of cyberattacks and is against “the use of cybersecurity issues to smear other countries for political purposes deliberately.”





Source link

Latest articles

Luis Suárez makes penalty shot to give Inter-Miami 1-0 lead against Cavalier S.C.

Luis Suárez makes penalty shot to give...

Columbia University expels students over pro-Palestinian protests amid govt pressure and funding cuts – The Times of India

Columbia University has has expelled students involved in last year’s pro-Palestinian...

Facing government shutdown threat, Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer announces support for GoP funding bill – The Times of India

Chuck Schumer, with Sen. Tina Smith as Senate Democrats gathered behind closed...

Versace era at Versace is ending: Donatella quits as creative chief amid sale talk – The Times of India

Actress Jennifer Lopez, left, and designer Donatella Versace (AP Photo) Donatella Versace...

More like this

Luis Suárez makes penalty shot to give Inter-Miami 1-0 lead against Cavalier S.C.

Luis Suárez makes penalty shot to give...

Columbia University expels students over pro-Palestinian protests amid govt pressure and funding cuts – The Times of India

Columbia University has has expelled students involved in last year’s pro-Palestinian...

Facing government shutdown threat, Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer announces support for GoP funding bill – The Times of India

Chuck Schumer, with Sen. Tina Smith as Senate Democrats gathered behind closed...