British Prime Minister’s Phone Hacked

Russia hacked recent British Prime Minister Liz Truss's phone while she was serving as Foreign Secretary and it was found to be so compromised that it was locked away in a 'secure location' as experts fear top secret negotiations and private messages may have been leaked. 

Truss was forced to change her mobile number shortly before becoming Prime Minister.

The hack was discovered during the summer Conservative party leadership campaign, but the news was suppressed until now on the orders of Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister at the time and the most senior British civil servant, Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, for security reasons. 

The Mail on Sunday newspaper described this as amounting to a "news blackout" reporting that agents suspected of working for Russia had been responsible for the alleged hacking, citing unnamed sources.

The spies are believed to have gained access to top-secret exchanges with key international partners as well as private conversations with her leading political allies and experts believe the intercepted messages included conversations with international foreign ministers about the conflict in Ukraine, potentially related to arms shipments.

British government sources insist that it now has "robust" cyber-threat protection in place and newly appointed Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, commented that while he did not know the full details "of what security breach, if any, took place" but said the government took these issues "incredibly seriously". 

These events are just the most recent to emerge over the covert hacking of mobile phones used by political leaders and senior government figures across the European Union and further afield. Canadian experts raised the threat of mobile spyware developed by the NSO Group being used the target the British Prime Minister as long as two years ago.

It is not clear how any hack happened, but opposition parties have seized on the issue. "There are immensely important national security issues raised by an attack like this by a hostile state which will have been taken extremely seriously by our intelligence and security agencies," said Labour party shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper. "There are also serious security questions around why and how this information has been leaked or released right now which must also be urgently investigated."

Sky:     Security Affairs:      Guardian:     Daily Mail:      BBC:     Independent:      

You Might Also Read: 

Mercenary Hacking Group Selling Spyware:

 

« Artificial Intelligence & Its Impact On Cyber Security
Cyber Security Threats For The US Midterm Elections »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

LockLizard

LockLizard

Locklizard provides PDF DRM software that protects PDF documents from unauthorized access and misuse. Share and sell documents securely - prevent document leakage, sharing and piracy.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

EfficientIP

EfficientIP

EfficientIP helps organizations drive business efficiency through agile, secure and reliable network infrastructures.

Authorize.Net

Authorize.Net

Authorize.Net is a Payment Gateway which provides the complex infrastructure and security necessary to ensure fast, reliable and secure transactions.

CyberPoint

CyberPoint

CyberPoint delivers innovative, leading-edge cyber security products, solutions, and services to customers worldwide.

Niksun

Niksun

Niksun's forensics-based cyber security and network performance monitoring products provide customers with actionable insight into security threats, performance issues, and compliance risks.

TÜV Informationstechnik (TÜViT)

TÜV Informationstechnik (TÜViT)

TÜViT is a leading service provider in the IT sector offering unbiased and independent tests and certifications of IT products, hardware, software, systems and processes.

NGS (UK)

NGS (UK)

NGS (UK) Ltd are independent, vendor agnostic, next generation security trusted advisors, providing all-encompassing solutions from the perimeter to the endpoint.

Vaadata

Vaadata

Vaadata are experts in ethical hacking. We secure your web, mobile and IoT platforms.

Axxum Technologies

Axxum Technologies

Axxum Technologies is a premier provider of Network Communications and Information Technology Security Solutions.

InfoExpress

InfoExpress

InfoExpress provides network security solutions that enhance productivity and security through better visibility, improved security, and automating device and mobile access to the network.

SecSign Technologies

SecSign Technologies

SecSign Technologies delivers user authentication, messaging, file sharing, and file storage with next generation security for company networks, websites, platforms, and devices.

Alacrinet

Alacrinet

Alacrinet is an IT and cyber security consultancy. From penetration testing to fully managed MSSP, our team is focused on knowing the latest threats, preventing vulnerabilities, and providing value.

ZILLIONe

ZILLIONe

ZILLIONe is one of Sri Lanka´s top enterprise technology solutions providers.

Blattner Technologies

Blattner Technologies

Blattner Technologies mission is to be the leading provider of predictive transformation services and tools in the Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning industry.

Falconfeeds

Falconfeeds

Falconfeeds empowers businesses and security professionals with immediate access to the latest and historical threat intelligence data.

Fairly AI

Fairly AI

Fairly AI is on a mission to democratize safe, secure, and compliant AI across the enterprise.

CliffGuard Cybersecurity

CliffGuard Cybersecurity

CliffGuard Cybersecurity deliver comprehensive services designed to protect your organization from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.