According to an expert, the frequency of cyberattacks from adversaries of the UK is increasing in this era of global conflict. Recently, Russian hackers allegedly obtained classified security information about some of the country's most sensitive military facilities, including the HMNB Clyde nuclear submarine base on Scotland's west coast and the Porton Down chemical weapon laboratory.
In a cyber attack last month by a hacking group called LockBit, which has known connections to Russian individuals, a significant amount of data was leaked onto the dark web after targeting private security firm Zaun. The attack was deemed very damaging. Zaun specializes in providing security fencing for sites associated with the Ministry of Defence. Described themselves as victims of a sophisticated cyber attack.
Responding to this news, Professor Kevin Curran from Ulster University's cybersecurity department expressed that the LockBits attack should be taken seriously, particularly considering the escalation towards what people call "World War Three" after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Given its target and nature, it is likely that the state-sponsored this raid. According to Professor Curran, cyber-attacks from enemies targeting Britain have become unrelenting. Professor Curran has expressed concern about our lack of preparedness for this era, particularly concerning third party companies that have access to sensitive military data. He emphasized that relying solely on these companies to adhere to regulations can be risky. It's worrisome because everything is connected online now, and cybercrime has become a global issue.
Considering the geopolitical climate, where we are on the brink of World War Three, it's crucial to take this seriously. The relentless nature of cyberattacks poses a threat as our nation's cybersecurity is often the vulnerable entry point for such attacks.
Given the target and circumstances in this case, Professor Curran believes it might be state-sponsored. This raises questions about why Zaun's computer systems were susceptible and highlights potential damage to the security of our most sensitive sites.
The Labour MP Kevan Jones, who serves on the Commons Defence Select Committee, has urged the government to explain these vulnerabilities. He rightly points out that any information compromising security arrangements could pose a risk if it falls into the hands of potential adversaries.
As a spokesperson stated, the government hasn't responded to concerns, "We don't usually comment on matters related to security."
In a statement published on their website Friday, Zaun assured that they have taken all necessary steps to prevent attacks on their systems. They also mentioned that they had reported the incident to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
According to Zaun, the breach occurred through a Windows 7 PC running software for one of their manufacturing machines. However, they clarified that their network was up to date apart from this PC.
Zaun initially believed their cybersecurity software had prevented data transfers during the attack. However, it has now been confirmed that LockBit managed to download some data during the breach. The downloaded data may be limited to the PC, but there is a risk of server data being accessed as well.
10 GB of data has been affected, which accounts for around 0.74 percent of our stored information.
Zaun's expertise lies in high-security perimeter fencing. They have supplied fencing materials for prominent locations, including prisons, military bases, and utilities.