Lawmakers will be told later today of a major data breach involving the Ministry of Defence, which targeted military personnel.
Sky News understands that the Chinese state hacked the Ministry of Defense.
Lawmakers will be told today about a major data breach that includes: modintended for service personnel.
Sky News understands that the government has not named the countries involved. China.
The Chinese state will be accused of two or three attempted hacks against Ministry of Defense personnel, including officials.
The cyber attack was against the payroll systems of active duty military personnel and some veterans. The main information exposed was names and bank account details.
Your salary will be paid in full this month.
Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and former military officer, told Sky News that China “may be looking at economically vulnerable people with a view to potentially being extorted in exchange for cash.” .
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons today, and the BBC reports that he will set out a “multi-pronged plan” that includes actions to protect affected servicemen and women. .
The Ministry of Defense wants its personnel not to worry about their safety. Advice and support will be provided to them tomorrow.
The contractor’s systems were not connected to the Department of Defense’s main computer systems and were shut down after a review was initiated.
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The Department of Defense has been working rapidly to understand the scale of the hack over the past 72 hours since it was discovered in recent days.
The investigation shows that no data has been collected so far.
This could raise questions about whether other countries with difficult relations with China would want to share sensitive information with the UK.
This comes less than two months after Chinese “state-linked actors” were blamed by the government for two “malicious” cyberattack campaigns in the UK.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden speaking in the House of Commons in March uncovered two incidents Attacks in 2021 included attacks on the Election Commission, which oversees elections and political financing, and targeted attacks on members of Congress who are skeptical of China.
Labour’s shadow defense secretary, John Healy, said: “There are many, many serious questions for the defense secretary about this, particularly from military personnel whose details are being targeted.”
He added: “Such hostile acts are completely unacceptable.
“Parliament expects the full text of the Commons statement to be tabled tomorrow.”
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a Conservative MP and former military man who has been sanctioned by China, told Sky News: “This is a sign that the UK government has acknowledged that China poses a systematic threat to the UK and that the Integrated Review “This is another example of why we need to change.” reflect that.
“We don’t need any more pretense. A malign actor supporting Russia with money and military equipment and collaborating with Iran and North Korea in a new axis of totalitarian states.”
“We are learning the hard way how rapidly the art wars are changing as technology advances,” Elwood said.
“Protecting the digital landscape is now as important as the physical landscape. This is yet another reminder of why we need to invest more in defense and security.
“The Ministry of Defense’s targeting of payslips and bank account information was likely aimed at economically vulnerable populations, with the view that they could be extorted in exchange for cash.
“And if this type of cyber-attack is happening here in the UK, it seems likely that other NATO countries will also be targeted.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping is Currently on tour in Europe – However, he has no plans to visit the UK.
He will spend today in Paris and tomorrow head to the Pyrenees with French President Emmanuel Macron.
He is then scheduled to visit Serbia on Wednesday and Hungary on Thursday, both countries which have friendly relations with the Chinese government.
