China has been accused of being behind a significant breach of UK military personnel data in a payroll system.
Various outlets have reported China is to blame for the breach, however, it is unlikely the country will be named when UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, speaks in front of MPs.
The one-party state known for surveillance practices denies “all forms of cyber attacks” after the UK detected the attempted breach. Although no data was obtained in the attack, the UK is acting defiantly and will gather evidence as part of an investigation which could take months, even years to level an offence against China.
The government breach reinstates the threatening power that China has over the UK to engage in espionage activity. The system held “HMRC-style information”, including names and bank details of Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Forces. The Chinese Foreign Ministry branded the claims of data breaches, dating back years, as “absurd”.
