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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK faces 'state-backed' hackers | UK faces 'state-backed' hackers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Vital UK computer systems are under attack by "state-sponsored hacking on an industrial scale", the ex-digital engagement minister has warned. | Vital UK computer systems are under attack by "state-sponsored hacking on an industrial scale", the ex-digital engagement minister has warned. |
| Tom Watson told MPs the only way to combat the threat was to set up a "spy school for geeks who are more cunning than their Chinese counterparts". | Tom Watson told MPs the only way to combat the threat was to set up a "spy school for geeks who are more cunning than their Chinese counterparts". |
| The Labour MP ran Downing Street's web strategy until two weeks ago. | The Labour MP ran Downing Street's web strategy until two weeks ago. |
| He spoke as ministers unveiled a cyber security strategy to prevent attacks from hostile states and terrorists. | He spoke as ministers unveiled a cyber security strategy to prevent attacks from hostile states and terrorists. |
| Launching the strategy Lord West, who has been appointed as the UK's first cyber security minister, confirmed that the UK government has faced cyber attacks from foreign states such as Russia and China. | |
| He said the government had recruited a team of former hackers for its new Cyber Security Operations Centre, based at the government's secret listening post GCHQ, in Cheltenham, to help if fight back. | |
| Future targets | Future targets |
| They had not employed any "ultra, ultra criminals" but needed the expertise of former "naughty boys," he added. | They had not employed any "ultra, ultra criminals" but needed the expertise of former "naughty boys," he added. |
| "You need youngsters who are deep into this stuff... If they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys," he said. | "You need youngsters who are deep into this stuff... If they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys," he said. |
| He also confirmed that the government had developed the capability to strike back at cyber attacks, although he declined to say whether it had ever been used. | He also confirmed that the government had developed the capability to strike back at cyber attacks, although he declined to say whether it had ever been used. |
| This government has a rather illiberal and invasive overarching counter terrorism strategy Tom Brake, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Cyber-security strategy launched | This government has a rather illiberal and invasive overarching counter terrorism strategy Tom Brake, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Cyber-security strategy launched |
| "It would be silly to say that we don't have any capability to do offensive work from Cheltenham, and I don't think I should say any more than that." | "It would be silly to say that we don't have any capability to do offensive work from Cheltenham, and I don't think I should say any more than that." |
| The biggest threat was from "state actors," said Lord West, who confirmed that UK systems had been targeted by Russia and China. | The biggest threat was from "state actors," said Lord West, who confirmed that UK systems had been targeted by Russia and China. |
| But he said the threat from terrorists was also growing and he warned that future targets could include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments. | But he said the threat from terrorists was also growing and he warned that future targets could include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments. |
| He denied that hackers had successfully broken into government systems and stolen secret information. | He denied that hackers had successfully broken into government systems and stolen secret information. |
| 'Missed opportunity' | 'Missed opportunity' |
| Lord West joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Alan Johnson for a visit to Detical, a London consultancy dedicated to tackling the cyber threat. | Lord West joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Alan Johnson for a visit to Detical, a London consultancy dedicated to tackling the cyber threat. |
| Mr Brown said: "I think everybody knows the internet has expanded massively, information is flowing around the world, citizens are in danger of being victims of organised crime, there are potentially terrorist attacks on our community, so we are stepping up this strategic unit to look at cyber security." | Mr Brown said: "I think everybody knows the internet has expanded massively, information is flowing around the world, citizens are in danger of being victims of organised crime, there are potentially terrorist attacks on our community, so we are stepping up this strategic unit to look at cyber security." |
| But Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, for the Conservatives, said the strategy was a "missed opportunity". | But Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, for the Conservatives, said the strategy was a "missed opportunity". |
| "It is impossible to know how significant these announcements are because we do not know what funding will be made available to enhance our ability to tackle cyber threats. It is also not clear how these new cyber security structures fit into the existing national security machinery." | "It is impossible to know how significant these announcements are because we do not know what funding will be made available to enhance our ability to tackle cyber threats. It is also not clear how these new cyber security structures fit into the existing national security machinery." |
| Her colleague in the Commons, Crispin Blunt, called it a "pale imitation" of an initiative launched by US President Barack Obama. | Her colleague in the Commons, Crispin Blunt, called it a "pale imitation" of an initiative launched by US President Barack Obama. |
| Ethics panel | Ethics panel |
| Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: "This new cyber security strategy could lead to an extension of the Government's invasive counter-terrorism powers which already pose significant threats to our civil liberties. | Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: "This new cyber security strategy could lead to an extension of the Government's invasive counter-terrorism powers which already pose significant threats to our civil liberties. |
| "The cyber security strategy uses broad, undefined terms that risk creating panic among the public and a demand for further government powers. We must not retreat into a Cold War mentality." | "The cyber security strategy uses broad, undefined terms that risk creating panic among the public and a demand for further government powers. We must not retreat into a Cold War mentality." |
| And he demanded reassurances from Home Office minister John Hanson that the new unit, which will start work in September and be paid for out of existing budgets, will not be used to spy on ordinary people's internet use. | And he demanded reassurances from Home Office minister John Hanson that the new unit, which will start work in September and be paid for out of existing budgets, will not be used to spy on ordinary people's internet use. |
| Mr Hanson a special ethics panel would be set up to monitor the new unit and the government would be working with civil liberties groups, although he declined to say which ones. | Mr Hanson a special ethics panel would be set up to monitor the new unit and the government would be working with civil liberties groups, although he declined to say which ones. |
| "This is about defending civil liberties and ensuring that we protect the liberties of people to enjoy their lives free of crime and free of the terrorist threat," he told MPs. | "This is about defending civil liberties and ensuring that we protect the liberties of people to enjoy their lives free of crime and free of the terrorist threat," he told MPs. |
| Mr Brake and Mr Blunt also asked why news of the new unit appeared to have been leaked to the media - prompting Mr Hanson to admit that it had been issued two days early in error and some newspapers had broken an embargo. | Mr Brake and Mr Blunt also asked why news of the new unit appeared to have been leaked to the media - prompting Mr Hanson to admit that it had been issued two days early in error and some newspapers had broken an embargo. |
| Tom Watson, until earlier this month a Cabinet Office minister, said the opposition were missing the point: "There is state-sponsored hacking of key Uk information networks on an industrial scale and we have to transform GCHQ into a spy school for geeks who are more cunning than their Chinese counterparts." | Tom Watson, until earlier this month a Cabinet Office minister, said the opposition were missing the point: "There is state-sponsored hacking of key Uk information networks on an industrial scale and we have to transform GCHQ into a spy school for geeks who are more cunning than their Chinese counterparts." |