Claims of a cyber breach involving Russian hackers who reportedly obtained sensitive military documents, including information on RAF and Royal Navy bases, as well as MoD staff details, and then posted them on the dark web are currently under investigation by the UK Government.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that they are actively looking into these reports and emphasized their strong stance against cyber threats. According to sources, the hackers accessed the files through a third-party contractor, the Dodd Group, in September. The hacked documents allegedly contain classified data on Navy and RAF bases, such as RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, a key location for US Air Force F-35 stealth jets.
In response to the breach, an MoD spokesperson stated, “We are thoroughly investigating claims of MOD-related information being exposed on the Dark Web. To protect sensitive operational data, we will refrain from disclosing further details.”
This incident follows a series of data breaches at the MoD, including a significant breach last year where the personal information of service members and veterans, including names, bank details, and some addresses, was compromised. It was revealed that up to 272,000 individuals may have been impacted by this breach. Additionally, in 2022, the Government established the Afghanistan Response Route to assist individuals whose information was mistakenly leaked by a defence official.
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