SPOOKS battle hackers from China and Russia around the clock, a spy chief has revealed.
But the boss of Britain’s online intelligence agency told The Sun “we cannot do this alone”.
Spooks battle hackers from China and Russia around the clock, a spy chief has revealed[/caption]
National Cyber Security Centre head Felicity Oswald spoke out as two Chinese officials and a front firm were sanctioned over cyber attacks on MPs and the Electoral Commission.
We told yesterday how the Communist superstate was behind a 2021 hack which accessed the personal details of 40million voters. MPs and peers were also targeted.
Ms Oswald said the NCSC was working day and night “to stamp out threats and help keep the country safe”.
She said defending democracy “is a priority for us and a mission we take seriously”.
But she added: “We cannot do this alone. It is only through working together to strengthen our online defences that we can stay secure, and we strongly encourage all those in politics to follow our expert advice to keep attackers at bay.”
Announcing yesterday’s sanctions, which include asset freezes and UK travel bans, Deputy PM Oliver Dowden accused China of being behind “malicious” cyber campaigns.
He told MPs: “This is the latest in a clear pattern of hostile activity originating in China, including the targeting of democratic institutions.
“We will not hesitate to take swift and robust actions wherever the Chinese government threatens the UK’s interests.”
PM Rishi Sunak said China is the “greatest state-based threat to our economic security”.
But some MPs wanted tougher action against Beijing.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who was targeted, said it “should mark a watershed moment where the UK takes a stand for values of human rights and the international rules-based system on which we all depend”.
‘Online is the new front line’
By Oliver Dowden
YESTERDAY I called out Chinese cyber proxies seeking to undermine our democracy.
They were caught red-handed attempting to hack our Electoral Commission and seeking to access Parliamentary email accounts.
Our defences are strong and we managed to stop them in their tracks. But it is an affront to our democracy that they tried.
That’s why we’ve called it out so publicly and why we’ve sanctioned those involved. China’s ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office to account for their behaviour.
The message is clear — these actions have consequences.
I want the public to feel reassured that our elections, national and local, remain secure.
Online is the new front line and I have been consistent in drawing attention to the growing threat we face.
But I am confident we will more than meet it.
