According to BBC News, a significant data breach has exposed the personal information of an unknown number of serving members of the UK military. The hack targeted a payroll system used by the Ministry of Defence, which includes the names and bank details of current and some past armed forces personnel. In some cases, personal addresses may also have been accessed. The data relates to current and former members of the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force over a period of several years, and was described as “personal HMRC-style information”.
The system was managed by an external contractor and no operational MoD data has been obtained. It is unknown who is behind the hack or what the data may be used for. The MoD has taken immediate action and the system has been taken offline while investigations are underway. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to update MPs about the hack in the Commons on Tuesday and set out a “multi-point plan” in response, which will include action to protect affected service personnel.
While the identity of the hackers remains unknown, the incident comes amid increasing warnings about cyber-security threats to the UK from hostile states and third parties. The government has published an updated version of its long-term defence strategy which outlines the proliferation of “commercial spyware, ransomware and offensive cyber capabilities by state and non-state actors”. Hackers demanding ransoms have also targeted public institutions and private firms.
In March, the government accused China of being behind a hack in August 2021 that targeted the details of millions of voters held by the Electoral Commission. In December 2023, the National Cyber Security Centre identified Russian intelligence as being behind “malicious cyber activity attempting to interfere in UK politics and democratic processes”. The MoD is currently in the process of notifying and providing support and advice to those affected and making veterans’ organisations aware of what has happened
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