In a recent cyber attack on third-party payroll software, hackers have stolen personal data, including names and bank details, of employees from the British Ministry of Defense. The breach has reportedly affected tens of thousands of British armed forces and veterans. This incident, reported by Sky News and the Independent, has raised significant concerns within the UK government.
Later today, parliamentarians are expected to receive a briefing on the matter, with Defense Secretary Grant Shapps scheduled to address the House of Commons and outline measures to safeguard the impacted individuals.
Suspicions have arisen that Chinese hackers are behind this breach. This follows previous accusations by the British government in March, linking China to a similar cyber attack in August 2021. The UK and the US have previously sanctioned the hacker group known as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (APT 31) and have charged seven of its members. This group is believed to be connected to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
However, China’s Foreign Ministry has firmly denied any involvement in the recent attack, asserting that they oppose all forms of cyber attacks and urging the US and UK to cease politicizing cybersecurity issues and imposing unilateral sanctions.
The UK government is taking these allegations seriously, and Defense Secretary Shapps is expected to present a comprehensive plan to protect soldiers and other affected personnel. As cyber threats continue to evolve, this incident underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to defend against sophisticated international threats.
