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| Russian hacking aims to destabilise West, Sir Michael Fallon says | Russian hacking aims to destabilise West, Sir Michael Fallon says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Russia is carrying out a sustained campaign of cyber attacks targeting democracy and critical infrastructure in the West, UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has warned. | Russia is carrying out a sustained campaign of cyber attacks targeting democracy and critical infrastructure in the West, UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has warned. |
| Moscow was "weaponising misinformation" in a bid to expand its influence and destabilise Western governments and weaken Nato, he said. | Moscow was "weaponising misinformation" in a bid to expand its influence and destabilise Western governments and weaken Nato, he said. |
| Vladimir Putin had chosen to become a "strategic competitor" of the West. | Vladimir Putin had chosen to become a "strategic competitor" of the West. |
| Sir Michael said it was vital alliance members strengthened cyber defences. | Sir Michael said it was vital alliance members strengthened cyber defences. |
| His speech, at the University of St Andrews, comes as Theresa May is to use an informal summit in Malta to press EU Nato members to boost defence spending. | His speech, at the University of St Andrews, comes as Theresa May is to use an informal summit in Malta to press EU Nato members to boost defence spending. |
| May to press EU leaders on Nato spending | |
| Meanwhile, in a report, MPs have warned that a skills shortage and "chaotic" handling of personal data breaches are undermining confidence in the UK government's ability to protect the country from cyber attacks. | Meanwhile, in a report, MPs have warned that a skills shortage and "chaotic" handling of personal data breaches are undermining confidence in the UK government's ability to protect the country from cyber attacks. |
| MPs question UK's cyber attack defences | MPs question UK's cyber attack defences |
| Sir Michael said Nato needed to do more to tackle the "false reality" being propagated by the Kremlin. | Sir Michael said Nato needed to do more to tackle the "false reality" being propagated by the Kremlin. |
| "Nato must defend itself as effectively in the cyber sphere as it does in the air, on land, and at sea, so adversaries know there is a price to pay if they use cyber weapons," he added. | "Nato must defend itself as effectively in the cyber sphere as it does in the air, on land, and at sea, so adversaries know there is a price to pay if they use cyber weapons," he added. |
| The defence secretary pointed to a "persistent pattern of behaviour" by Moscow, highlighting a series of cyber attacks that had been linked to Russia. | The defence secretary pointed to a "persistent pattern of behaviour" by Moscow, highlighting a series of cyber attacks that had been linked to Russia. |
| Suspected Russian attacks included France's TV5Monde broadcaster being taken off in April 2015, and the targeting of Germany's lower house of parliament, he said. | Suspected Russian attacks included France's TV5Monde broadcaster being taken off in April 2015, and the targeting of Germany's lower house of parliament, he said. |
| Another cyber attack, on Bulgaria in October 2016, was described by the country's president as the "heaviest" and most "intense" to be conducted in south-eastern Europe. | Another cyber attack, on Bulgaria in October 2016, was described by the country's president as the "heaviest" and most "intense" to be conducted in south-eastern Europe. |
| Sir Michael also spoke of the suspected Russian hacking of the two main political parties in the US presidential elections. | Sir Michael also spoke of the suspected Russian hacking of the two main political parties in the US presidential elections. |
| Testing Nato | Testing Nato |
| "Today, we see a country that in weaponising misinformation has created what we might now see as the post-truth age," he said. | "Today, we see a country that in weaponising misinformation has created what we might now see as the post-truth age," he said. |
| "Russia is clearly testing Nato and the West. It is seeking to expand its sphere of influence, destabilise countries and weaken the alliance. | "Russia is clearly testing Nato and the West. It is seeking to expand its sphere of influence, destabilise countries and weaken the alliance. |
| "It is undermining national security for many allies and the international rules-based system. | "It is undermining national security for many allies and the international rules-based system. |
| "Therefore it is in our interest and Europe's to keep Nato strong and to deter and dissuade Russia from this course." | "Therefore it is in our interest and Europe's to keep Nato strong and to deter and dissuade Russia from this course." |
| Sir Michael backed US president Donald Trump's call for all Nato member states to honour the commitment to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence. | Sir Michael backed US president Donald Trump's call for all Nato member states to honour the commitment to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence. |