Chinese Hack Suspected in UK MoD Breach Affecting 270,000; Contractor Involved

May 7, 2024, 09:13 AM

A significant cyberattack on the UK Ministry of Defence's payroll system has led to the unauthorized access of personal data belonging to approximately 270,000 serving and former British armed forces personnel. The breach, which is suspected to have been orchestrated by Chinese hackers, compromised sensitive information including names, bank details, and potentially addresses of officials and active military personnel. The UK government has responded by taking the affected military database offline and planning a multi-point strategy to support and protect the personnel involved. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is set to address Parliament concerning the breach and outline the government's response, highlighting the involvement of a contractor.