{"id":3099,"date":"2024-05-07T15:21:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/07\/china-hacked-ministry-of-defence-sky-news-learns\/"},"modified":"2024-05-07T15:21:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T15:21:49","slug":"china-hacked-ministry-of-defence-sky-news-learns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailywashingtoninsider.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/07\/china-hacked-ministry-of-defence-sky-news-learns\/","title":{"rendered":"China hacked Ministry of Defence, Sky News learns"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Chinese state has hacked the Ministry of Defence, Sky News understands.<\/p>\n

MPs will be told today of a massive data breach involving the MoD<\/strong>, targeting service personnel.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The government will not name the country involved, but Sky News understands this to be China<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Chinese state is to be accused of two or three attempts at hacking MoD employees – including personnel.<\/p>\n

The cyberattack was on a payroll system with current service personnel and some veterans. It is largely names and bank details that have been exposed.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

All salaries will be paid this month.<\/p>\n

China’s foreign ministry said it “firmly opposes and fights all forms of cyber attacks” and “rejects the use of this issue politically to smear other countries”.<\/p>\n

Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and former soldier, told Sky News that China “was probably looking at the financially vulnerable with a view that they may be coerced in exchange for cash”.<\/p>\n

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will make a statement to the Commons today, with the BBC reporting he will set out a “multi-point plan” which will include action to protect affected service men and women.<\/p>\n

The MoD hopes serving personnel will not be concerned about their safety. They will be provided with advice and support.<\/p>\n

The contractor system is not connected to the main MoD computer systems and has been taken down with a review launched.<\/p>\n

The MoD has been working at speed over the last 72 hours to understand the scale of the hack after it was discovered in recent days.<\/p>\n

It is understood investigations have not so far shown any data has been taken.<\/p>\n

This could raise questions about whether other countries with challenging relationships with China will want to share sensitive intelligence with the UK.<\/p>\n

This comes fewer than two months after China’s “state-affiliated actors” have been blamed by the government for two “malicious” cyberattack campaigns in the UK.<\/p>\n

Government minister Mel Stride told Sky News on Tuesday morning China is “an epoch-defining challenge” and “our eyes are wide open” – quoting the Integrated Review of the UK’s national security and international policy completed in 2021.<\/p>\n

He would not confirm if China is the country that hacked the MoD but said the UK needs to “get the balance right” when it comes to Beijing.<\/p>\n

Mr Stride added: “By balance, I mean protecting our security. At the same time, I recognise and, of course, China is a very important economic player globally and, of course, big global challenges like climate change need to have China at the table, if we are to resolve those as well.”<\/p>\n

Making a speech in the Commons in March, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden revealed the two previous incidents<\/strong> involved an attack on the Electoral Commission – responsible for overseeing elections and political finance – in 2021, and targeted attacks against China-sceptic MPs.<\/p>\n

Labour’s shadow defence secretary John Healey said there are “so many serious questions for the defence secretary on this, especially from Forces personnel whose details were targeted”.<\/p>\n

He added: “Any such hostile action is utterly unacceptable.<\/p>\n

“Parliament will expect a full Commons statement tomorrow.”<\/p>\n

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a Conservative MP and former soldier who has been sanctioned by China, told Sky News: “This is yet another example of why the UK government must admit that China poses a systemic threat to the UK and change the integrated review to reflect that.<\/p>\n

“No more pretence, it is a malign actor, supporting Russia with money and military equipment, working with Iran and North Korea in a new axis of totalitarian states.”<\/p>\n

Mr Ellwood said: “We are learning the hard way how art warfare is rapidly changing as technology advances.<\/p>\n

“Defending the digital terrain is now just as important as the physical – this is another reminder why we need to invest more in defence and security.<\/p>\n

“Targeting the MoD’s payroll and bank details was probably looking at the financially vulnerable with a view that they may be coerced in exchange for cash.<\/p>\n

“And if this type of cyberattack is taking place here in the UK we can assume other nato countries will be targeted too.”<\/p>\n

Xi Jinping, China’s president, is currently on a tour of Europe<\/strong> – although he is not set to visit the UK.<\/p>\n

He spent Monday in Paris and will travel with French President Emmanuel Macron to the Pyrenees on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

After that, he will visit Serbia on Wednesday and Hungary on Thursday – both countries which are on friendly terms with Beijing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This post appeared first on sky.com<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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