This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/03/nadine-dorries-under-fire-for-lax-attitude-to-cyber-security

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Nadine Dorries under fire for lax attitude to cybersecurity Nadine Dorries under fire for lax attitude to cybersecurity
(11 days later)
While defending Damian Green, the Tory MP admitted she allows all levels of staff to log on to her computer
Hannah Summers
Sun 3 Dec 2017 21.47 GMT
Last modified on Mon 4 Dec 2017 00.36 GMT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
View more sharing options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Close
Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has come under fire for having a lax attitude to cybersecurity after divulging on Twitter that she shares her login and passwords with staff, including temporary interns.Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has come under fire for having a lax attitude to cybersecurity after divulging on Twitter that she shares her login and passwords with staff, including temporary interns.
She was defending her colleague, Damian Green, who has been accused of having pornography on his Commons computer, when she made the admission.She was defending her colleague, Damian Green, who has been accused of having pornography on his Commons computer, when she made the admission.
Questioning the claims of a retired police officer, who said Green must have been responsible for the material found on his machine, she tweeted: “My staff log onto my computer on my desk with my login everyday. Including interns on exchange programmes.”Questioning the claims of a retired police officer, who said Green must have been responsible for the material found on his machine, she tweeted: “My staff log onto my computer on my desk with my login everyday. Including interns on exchange programmes.”
My staff log onto my computer on my desk with my login everyday. Including interns on exchange programmes. For the officer on @BBCNews just now to claim that the computer on Greens desk was accessed and therefore it was Green is utterly preposterous !!My staff log onto my computer on my desk with my login everyday. Including interns on exchange programmes. For the officer on @BBCNews just now to claim that the computer on Greens desk was accessed and therefore it was Green is utterly preposterous !!
A social media backlash ensued, forcing the Mid Bedfordshire MP to defend her position with a flurry of tweets claiming sharing passwords was standard practice around parliament, despite being a breach of IT security rules.A social media backlash ensued, forcing the Mid Bedfordshire MP to defend her position with a flurry of tweets claiming sharing passwords was standard practice around parliament, despite being a breach of IT security rules.
For the record, Nadine, it is a fundamental DPA security breach to have staff access to a Parliamentary account in this way. I work in local govt & it is drummed into us from day one regarding client security and access to personal data. You're breaking the law. @NadineDorries https://t.co/zh6l3VJbuyFor the record, Nadine, it is a fundamental DPA security breach to have staff access to a Parliamentary account in this way. I work in local govt & it is drummed into us from day one regarding client security and access to personal data. You're breaking the law. @NadineDorries https://t.co/zh6l3VJbuy
Responding to claims she has a “cavalier attitude to data security”, she said she was a backbench MP who did not have access to government documents.Responding to claims she has a “cavalier attitude to data security”, she said she was a backbench MP who did not have access to government documents.
She told critics in one reply: “You don’t have a team of four to six staff answering the 300 emails you receive every day.”She told critics in one reply: “You don’t have a team of four to six staff answering the 300 emails you receive every day.”
Flattered by number of people on here who think I’m part of the Government and have access to government docs 😅I’m a back bench MP - 2 Westminster based computers in a shared office. On my computer, there is a shared email account. That’s it. Nothing else. Sorry to disappoint!Flattered by number of people on here who think I’m part of the Government and have access to government docs 😅I’m a back bench MP - 2 Westminster based computers in a shared office. On my computer, there is a shared email account. That’s it. Nothing else. Sorry to disappoint!
Her fellow MP, Nick Boles, waded into the debate to say he also shared his password for the same reason.Her fellow MP, Nick Boles, waded into the debate to say he also shared his password for the same reason.
I certainly do. In fact I often forget my password and have to ask my staff what it is.I certainly do. In fact I often forget my password and have to ask my staff what it is.
And Colchester MP Will Quince added: “Less login sharing and more that I leave my machine unlocked so they can use it if needs be. My office manager does know my login though. Ultimately I trust my team.”And Colchester MP Will Quince added: “Less login sharing and more that I leave my machine unlocked so they can use it if needs be. My office manager does know my login though. Ultimately I trust my team.”
The House of Commons handbook rules states that staff must not share their passwords.The House of Commons handbook rules states that staff must not share their passwords.
Less login sharing and more that I leave my machine unlocked so they can use it if needs be. My office manager does know my login though. Ultimately I trust my team.Less login sharing and more that I leave my machine unlocked so they can use it if needs be. My office manager does know my login though. Ultimately I trust my team.
According to the Sky News data protection officer, Carl Gottlieb: “Sharing access to confidential systems should always be minimised, especially in government where security and audit trails are paramount.According to the Sky News data protection officer, Carl Gottlieb: “Sharing access to confidential systems should always be minimised, especially in government where security and audit trails are paramount.
“MPs and the civil service have a track record of lax practices around sharing passwords and this needs to change. MPs, like many senior managers, have teams around them that act as a bubble of trust. Interns are trusted to handle their email and social media accounts on a daily basis.“MPs and the civil service have a track record of lax practices around sharing passwords and this needs to change. MPs, like many senior managers, have teams around them that act as a bubble of trust. Interns are trusted to handle their email and social media accounts on a daily basis.
He added: “This usually works well until, eventually, the bubble bursts, and previously trusted personnel make mistakes or go rogue.He added: “This usually works well until, eventually, the bubble bursts, and previously trusted personnel make mistakes or go rogue.
“Edward Snowden was the greatest example of this, with his NSA colleagues trusting him with their passwords, leading to the biggest breach in security the world has ever seen.”“Edward Snowden was the greatest example of this, with his NSA colleagues trusting him with their passwords, leading to the biggest breach in security the world has ever seen.”
The row over password sharing comes as a Cabinet Office inquiry examines claims pornography was found on a computer in Green’s parliamentary office.The row over password sharing comes as a Cabinet Office inquiry examines claims pornography was found on a computer in Green’s parliamentary office.
He denies watching or downloading pornography on his computer.He denies watching or downloading pornography on his computer.
Nadine DorriesNadine Dorries
Internet safetyInternet safety
ConservativesConservatives
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
Damian GreenDamian Green
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content