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Parliament hit by 'sustained' cyber-attack | Parliament hit by 'sustained' cyber-attack |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Parliament has been hit by a cyber attack, officials at Westminster say. | Parliament has been hit by a cyber attack, officials at Westminster say. |
The "sustained" hack began on Friday night, prompting officials to disable remote access to the emails of MPs, peers and their staff as a safeguard. | The "sustained" hack began on Friday night, prompting officials to disable remote access to the emails of MPs, peers and their staff as a safeguard. |
The parliamentary authorities said hackers had mounted a "determined attack" on all user accounts "in an attempt to identify weak passwords". | The parliamentary authorities said hackers had mounted a "determined attack" on all user accounts "in an attempt to identify weak passwords". |
Government sources say it appeared the attack has been contained but it will "remain vigilant". | Government sources say it appeared the attack has been contained but it will "remain vigilant". |
A parliamentary spokeswoman said they were investigating the attack and liaising with the National Cyber Security Centre. | A parliamentary spokeswoman said they were investigating the attack and liaising with the National Cyber Security Centre. |
She said: "We have discovered unauthorised attempts to access accounts of parliamentary networks users... | She said: "We have discovered unauthorised attempts to access accounts of parliamentary networks users... |
"Parliament has robust measures in place to protect all of our accounts and systems, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect and secure our network. | "Parliament has robust measures in place to protect all of our accounts and systems, and we are taking the necessary steps to protect and secure our network. |
"As a precaution we have temporarily restricted remote access to the network." | "As a precaution we have temporarily restricted remote access to the network." |
'Not a surprise' | 'Not a surprise' |
IT services on the parliamentary estate are working normally and a message sent to MPs urges them to be "extra vigilant". | IT services on the parliamentary estate are working normally and a message sent to MPs urges them to be "extra vigilant". |
But a number of MPs have confirmed to the BBC they are not able to access their parliamentary email accounts outside of the Westminster estate. | But a number of MPs have confirmed to the BBC they are not able to access their parliamentary email accounts outside of the Westminster estate. |
It comes just over a month after 48 of England's NHS trusts were hit by a cyber-attack. | It comes just over a month after 48 of England's NHS trusts were hit by a cyber-attack. |
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: "We have seen reports in the last few days of even Cabinet ministers' passwords being for sale online. | International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: "We have seen reports in the last few days of even Cabinet ministers' passwords being for sale online. |
"We know that our public services are attacked so it is not at all surprising that there should be an attempt to hack into parliamentary emails. | "We know that our public services are attacked so it is not at all surprising that there should be an attempt to hack into parliamentary emails. |
"And it's a warning to everybody, whether they are in Parliament or elsewhere, that they need to do everything possible to maintain their own cyber security." | "And it's a warning to everybody, whether they are in Parliament or elsewhere, that they need to do everything possible to maintain their own cyber security." |
The latest attack was publicly revealed by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard on Twitter as he asked his followers to send any "urgent messages" to him by text. | |
Henry Smith, Tory MP for Crawley, later tweeted: "Sorry no parliamentary email access today - we're under cyber attack from Kim Jong Un, (Vladimir) Putin or a kid in his mom's basement or something..." | Henry Smith, Tory MP for Crawley, later tweeted: "Sorry no parliamentary email access today - we're under cyber attack from Kim Jong Un, (Vladimir) Putin or a kid in his mom's basement or something..." |
The government's National Security Strategy said in 2015 that the threat from cyber-attacks from both organised crime and foreign intelligence agencies was one of the "most significant risks to UK interests". | The government's National Security Strategy said in 2015 that the threat from cyber-attacks from both organised crime and foreign intelligence agencies was one of the "most significant risks to UK interests". |
The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of intelligence agency GCHQ, started its operations in October last year. | The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of intelligence agency GCHQ, started its operations in October last year. |
The National Crime Agency said it was working with the NCSC but the centre was "leading the operational response". | The National Crime Agency said it was working with the NCSC but the centre was "leading the operational response". |