UK Defense Minister Grant Shabbs said this Tuesday that a “malicious agent” was responsible for a computer attack that affected a database containing thousands of British soldiers, but declined to confirm whether he suspected Chinese involvement.
“For national security reasons, we are unable to release further details about the suspected cyber activity behind this incident. However, I can confirm in Parliament that we have indications that this is the suspicious activity of a malicious agent and we cannot rule out a state intervention,” he told the House of Commons. said.
A Station Sky Newswho came forward with the news, He pointed out that China is the country in question.
The Chinese embassy in the UK called the suggestion of involvement a “completely fabricated and malicious slander”.
“China does not encourage, support or tolerate cyber attacks. At the same time, we oppose the politicization of cyber security issues and baseless slander of other countries without factual evidence,” said a spokesperson for the diplomatic mission.
The leak occurred in a payroll system owned by a third-party company that holds the bank details of all serving armed forces personnel and some soldiers.
Shubs insisted The computer is disconnected from the Internet and security is strengthenedAt the same time an investigation was launched.
The minister disclosed and confirmed that the ministry thwarts “millions of cyber attacks every day”. The service provider in question is SSCL, a subsidiary of French conglomerate Chopra SteriaIt works alongside other British public services, including the police.
The news prompted many Conservative MPs critical of the Chinese regime to press British Prime Minister Rishi Chung to toughen London’s stance.
Speaking to reporters this Tuesday, Sunak argued that the United Kingdom has a “very strong policy towards China.”
“This is a country with fundamentally different values from ours, which acts in a very authoritarian way both internally and decidedly externally,” he asserted.
