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Information concerning the physical security of major British intelligence and military sites, including a nuclear submarine base, has been published online, it was revealed last night, following a major Russia-affiliated cyber attack.<\/p>\n
West Midlands-based Zaun, which makes fences and perimeter security measures for high-risk sites, was hacked last month by cyber terrorist group LockBit.<\/p>\n
They released thousands of pages of data which could help criminals get into the HMNB Clyde nuclear submarine base, the Porton Down chemical weapon lab and a GCHQ listening post.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden warned Express.co.uk that online pro-Russian mercenaries, essentially a cyber version of the Wagner Group, were \u201cpushing back harder against\u201d Britain than ever before in response to the UK\u2019s alliance with Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Chair of the defence committee Tobias Ellwood MP described the latest attack by LockBit as further evidence that the war in Ukraine is \u201cno longer limited to the traditional battlefield\u201d and includes not just Ukraine but her allies, such as the UK.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Russia and China hack Foreign Office computers in major national security breach[REPORT] <\/strong><\/p>\n Thousands of pages of documents containing information on perimeter fencing around these key security and military sites were stolen and published on the dark web by LockBit, which can be accessed using special software.<\/p>\n Information about high-security prisons and a military site key to our cyber defences was also stolen in the raid.<\/p>\n While the incident is incomparable to a cyber attack on the security and military establishments Zaun was hired to physically protect, the publication of thousands of pages of documents is both provocative and an effective advertisement of LockBit\u2019s hacking intentions.<\/p>\n Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence committee, questioned how the attack \u201caffected the ability of our defence establishment to continue functioning without attack\u201d.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> He said that such an incident was \u201cno doubt related to\u201d the UK\u2019s continued support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n He added that it was another example of how \u201cconflict is no longer limited to the traditional battlefield\u201d but extended into the \u201cdigital domain\u201d.<\/p>\n Mr Dowden, speaking in April while the war in Ukraine was contained to its borders, as well as drone attacks in Russian territory, the cyber war related to the conflict was a \u201cglobal\u201d one.<\/p>\n Referring to LockBit, he said: \u201cThey are trying to hack us into giving up support for Ukraine. This is the nature of modern conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Last night, Labour MP Kevan Jones, who sits on the Commons Defence Select Committee, told The Mirror: \u201cThis is potentially very damaging to the security of some of our most sensitive sites.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Government needs to explain why this firm\u2019s computer systems were so vulnerable. Any information which gives security arrangements to potential enemies is of huge concern.\u201d<\/p>\n LockBit is described as the world\u2019s most dangerous hacking gang and key suspects are Mikhail Matveev, who is in the FBI\u2019s Most Wanted list and has alleged ties to Russian organised crime.<\/p>\n The group has conducted attacks on 1,400 global targets, including a \u00a366 million blackmail attempt on the Royal Mail in January last year.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Tobias-Ellwood-questioned-how-this-would-affect-the-security-of-the-UK-s-defence-establishments-4940656.jpg?r=1693727121602\")
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