Tag Archive for: Defence

Ministry of Defence hit by Russia-linked hackers as security secrets are leaked in data posted online

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THE Ministry of Defence has been hit by hackers with links to Russia, as security secrets have been leaked and the data posted online.

Hackers have released thousands of pages of information with could be used by criminals to access the HMNB Clyde nuclear submarine base, the Porton Down chemical weapons lab and a GCHQ listening post.

The Royal Navy’s Trident-class nuclear submarine Vanguard

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The Royal Navy’s Trident-class nuclear submarine VanguardCredit: s

Information concerning high-security prisons and a military site key to our cyber defences was also stolen in the raid by group LockBit.

Hackers are said to have targeted the databases of Zaun, a firm which makes the fences for maximum security sites.

The information was published on the internet’s dark web, which can be accessed with specialist software.

It’s thought the information was stolen last month during an attack on the firm based in the West Midlands, according to a report by the Mirror.

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LockBit is regarded as the world’s most dangerous hacking gang with its keys suspects listed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

It’s thought they are responsible for 1,400 attacks on global targets.

The group is also allegedly behind a £66million blackmail attempt on the Royal Mail – with the postal service refusing to cave in to their demands.

A number of Russian nationals have been accused of cyber attacks and held in both the United States and Canada.

LockBit is said to have financial connections to Russian gangsters.

One document which was leaked relates to specific equipment bought to protect Porton Down in Wiltshire.

Zaun describes its work there as “very secretive”.

Another leaked document posted on the dark web is a sales order detailing goods purchased for HMNB Clyde – also known as Faslane – which is home to Trident nuclear subs.

Other documents include a sales order report for equipment at GCHQ’s communications complex in Bude, Cornwall, as well as security equipment at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, where the Reaper attack drones squadron is based, and Cawdor Barracks, the base of the 14th Signal Regiment, which deals in electronic warfare.

Detailed drawings for perimeter fencing at Cawdor, in Pembrokeshire, were attached to company emails.

Paperwork…

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Evolving Landscape Of Cyber Threats Needs Robust Defence Mechanisms Sanjay Katkar Quick Heal Technologies

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In today’s digital age, where technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overlooked, as cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. Constantly evolving tactics, the use of advanced techniques such as ransomware, phishing attacks and data breaches to target individuals, businesses and even governments are rampant.

Sophos’s report “The State of Ransomware 2021” states that in 2020, the average cost of a ransomware attack on businesses reached close to Rs 8.5 crore, a 200 per cent increase from the previous year. While, the “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2020” by IMB security revealed that in 2020, the average data breach cost was USD 3.86 million and it took an average of 280 days to identify and contain a breach.

According to Microsoft’s Global Tech Support Scam Research, 31 per cent of Indians lost money to cyberattacks in 2022. Every day, citizens in the state of Gujarat alone collectively lose Rs 1 to 1.2 crore to online financial fraud, according to the cyber cell of Gujarat CID. Thus, the consequences of these attacks can be devastating, ranging from financial loss to reputational damage and, in some cases, even endangering lives.

Expanding Attack Surfaces

According to Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director of Quick Heal Technologies, “One of the key challenges in today’s cybersecurity landscape is the ever-expanding attack surface. With the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, cloud computing and the widespread adoption of mobile devices, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of entry points for cybercriminals to exploit. Mobile device usage has become pervasive.”

According to Statista’s report on the number of smartphone users worldwide from 2016 to 2023, as of 2021, there were over 3.8 billion smartphone users worldwide which is expected to reach 4.3 billion by 2023.

The number of IoT devices is also increasing at a rapid pace. By 2025, there will be over 75 billion connected IoT devices worldwide, as per Statista’s report on “Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices installed base worldwide from 2015 to 2025.” It is essential for organisations…

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Flying the flag for defence stocks: All systems go for sector often in firing line

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The launch this week of a Future of Defence fund that will put money into the armaments and cybersecurity industries comes amid confusing signals from the sector.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, investing in defence stocks – until recently regarded by many as anathema – is increasingly seen as providing support to democracy.

Yet in the past few weeks the direction of share prices has not necessarily reflected the global boom in spending, sparked by the war in Ukraine, and alarm over China’s intentions towards Taiwan, its neighbour in the South China Sea.

After a long-ish era of decline, expenditure reached $2.24trillion (£1.74trillion) last year, with British businesses such as Chemring, which supplies materials and components for missile systems, reporting a surge in orders.

Nato members that have not dedicated 2 per cent of GDP to defence are promising to meet this target. The HANetf Future of Defence fund, which will have the stock market ticker ‘Nato’, will back only companies based in the countries that are members of the alliance or part of the Nato Plus group – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel and South Korea.

Despite the rush to re-equip and form multi-year partnerships, shares in some major UK and US defence names fell following last month’s failed insurrection led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group. BAE slipped as did Qinetiq, which is behind the Banshee drone.

It seems traders viewed the brief coup as evidence of instability in Russia that could shorten hostilities in Ukraine. A cessation would reduce outlay on tanks, troops and the rest, with other consequences for defence contractors.

Ukraine has been a hugely important testing ground for these groups’ technologies, revealing where innovation and upgrades are needed.

Some investors, devoted to the cause of ESG (environment, social and governance) will be unperturbed by the post-coup share price falls.

They will continue to shun BAE, Qinetiq and other cyber-security or weaponry companies in the EQM Future of Defence index. Its constituents include Cisco, Northrop Grumman, Palo Alto and Raytheon, maker of the Patriot missile.

But Russian aggression has shifted…

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More defence spending? Fine, but Sunak needs to tell us where the money is coming from

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Throughout his political career, Boris Johnson has often said things that later came back to haunt him. But as we approach the one year anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the former PM’s most embarrassing blunders was his verdict on tank warfare.

Just three months before Russian forces launched their onslaught, Johnson clashed with Commons Defence Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood as he appeared before the Liaison Committee of senior MPs.

“We have to recognise that the old concepts of fighting big tank battles on the European land mass, which I think is what you’re driving at, are over and there are other better things that we should be investing in,” the PM said.

As Johnson set out that a shift to cyberwarfare made more sense, Ellwood retorted: “You can’t hold ground with cyber.” But Johnson, clearly needled by the exchange, was unabashed: “I don’t think that going back to a 1940s style approach will serve us well.” He added a final, mocking flourish: “You’re saying we should commit UK tanks to the defence of Ukraine…?”

Well, as we all now know, that didn’t age well. The past fortnight has been full of stories about Ukraine’s desperate need for battle tanks to both fend off an expected Russian spring offensive and to expel the enemy from more of its sovereign territory.

Far from the age of the tank being over, the old warhorses of armoured infantry are now central to any debate about the war’s progress. Germany has made the historic decision to allow its Leopard 2 tanks to join the conflict, the UK is sending a squadron of 14 of its Challenger 2s and the US is sending a battalion of 31 of its own Abrams tanks.

Only today, Rishi Sunak updated the Cabinet to underline just how pivotal the UK’s tank intervention had been as a catalyst for Germany’s move. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also revealed that the Russians had lost two thirds of their own tanks so far.

Johnson claims to have got most of the “big calls right” in his premiership, not least on Ukraine. But on defence policy overall he has got several big calls wrong, not least his 2021 decision to slash the British Army from 82,000 personnel to 72,500 by 2025.

Given…

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