90 email accounts compromised as hackers target ‘weak passwords’
Up
to 90 email accounts used by MPs and their staff may have been
compromised in what is thought to have been Parliament’s
worst-ever cyber-attack. The MPs fear a possible blackmail threat after
what one source said may be a state-sponsored attack on their
Parliamentary emails over the weekend.
The
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Crime Agency are
probing the incident, which came after reports hackers were selling
Cabinet ministers and MPs’ passwords online.
Here are some Tweets:
Less
than 1 percent of the system’s 9,000 users are believed to have been
directly impacted by the “determined and sustained” attack. “The figure
is less than many feared but is still a breach. It is being taken very
seriously.”
The parliamentary
spokesman said those whose emails were compromised had used weak
passwords despite advice to the contrary. “Investigations are ongoing,
but it has become clear that significantly fewer than 1% of the 9,000
accounts on the parliamentary network have been compromised as a result
of the use of weak passwords that did not conform to guidance issued by
the Parliamentary Digital Service.
Tory
MP Andrew Bridgen said such an attack “absolutely” could leave some
people open to blackmail. “Constituents want to know the information
they send to us is completely secure,” he said.
“Earlier
this morning, we discovered unusual activity and evidence of an
attempted cyber-attack on our computer network. Closer investigation by
our team confirmed that hackers were carrying out a sustained and
determined attack on all parliamentary user accounts in an attempt to
identify weak passwords.”
An NCSC
spokesperson added: “The NCSC is aware of the incident and is working
with the UK parliamentary digital security team to understand what has
happened and advise on the necessary actions.”
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