Hackers target UK national infrastructure

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded from: Elyn Wollensky <elyn () consect com>

http://www.vnunet.com/News/1130416

By Andy McCue 
[26-03-2002]

Government departments vital to the protection of the UK's critical national
infrastructure are being attacked an average of 84 times a week by hackers.

The infrastructure consists of key departments like Government Communication
Headquarters, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, along with power
and communications companies in the private sector.

Electronic attacks on these organisations are recorded in confidence by the
United Reporting and Alert Scheme. Between 1 January 1999 and 29 January
2002 government departments reported 13,146 hacking attempts.

Most proved unsuccessful with access being denied in 12,929 cases, but
sensitive data was stolen or disclosed on 10 occasions and in 23 cases files
were deleted or damaged.

The government was unable to say how many of the attacks were internal or
external, citing the "disproportionate cost" of providing such a breakdown.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We continually monitor the threat of
electronic attacks against the critical national infrastructure.

"We have well established defences in place but we are not complacent and
keep it under constant review, particularly in the light of 11 September."



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