‘Russia-linked hackers’ are targeting the Ministry of Defense and leaking thousands of documents relating to some of Britain’s most sensitive sites online in a ‘potentially very damaging’ security breach.
Russian-linked hackers have targeted the UK Ministry of Defense and leaked thousands of documents online, according to a report.
Hackers have released data that could help criminals break into some of Britain’s most secret sites, including the HMNB Clyde nuclear submarine base, the Porton Down chemical weapons laboratory and a listening to GCHQ.
Secret information from military sites and high security prisons has also been stolen by the LockBit group, one of the most dangerous hacker gangs in the world.
The group, whose main suspects are Russian Mikhail Matveev, allegedly shared the data on the dark web, accessible through special software, The mirror reports.
Labor MP Kevan Jones, who sits on the Commons Defense Select Committee, told the newspaper: “This could be very damaging to the security of some of our most sensitive sites.
“The government must explain why this company’s computer systems were so vulnerable. Any information that gives security measures to potential enemies is extremely concerning.
The cybercriminals reportedly targeted the databases of Zaun, a company responsible for protecting maximum security sites.
This follows serious security breaches involving the Met Police – where the contact details of 47,000 officers were at risk – and the Police Service of Northern Ireland which accidentally shared the personal data of 10,000 staff.
Hackers have released thousands of pages of data that could help criminals break into the HMNB Clyde nuclear submarine base (pictured).
Information that could help criminals break into the Porton Down chemical weapons lab (pictured) has also been leaked by hackers.
The newspaper found the hackers stole the documents last month in a shocking attack on Zaun, a West Midlands-based company that manufactures fencing and security measures for vulnerable sites. The company provided safety barriers during the 2012 London Olympics.
LockBit, which allegedly has financial ties to Russian criminals, is considered incredibly dangerous.
Mikhail Matveev, who has been linked to numerous ransomware variants including LockBit, is on the FBI’s most wanted list after attacks on 1,400 global targets, including a £66million blackmail against the Royal Mail who refused to pay.
A number of Russians have been arrested following cyberattacks in the United States and Canada.
A government spokesman told MailOnline this evening: ‘We do not comment on security matters’.
This is breaking news. More soon.
