Sir Lindsay Hoyle has issued a warning to Members of Parliament about a surge in Russian-linked phishing attacks targeting them through messaging applications like WhatsApp and Signal. The Speaker of the House of Commons sent the alert in a letter to parliamentarians, highlighting the growing cyber threat to UK officials.
The attacks involve phishing – a tactic where hostile actors trick individuals into sharing sensitive information or compromising their accounts. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has urged MPs to enhance their security measures and advised against using informal messaging apps for parliamentary work due to these threats.
Government response
A Government spokesperson confirmed the NCSC is working with partners to address the targeting of commercial messaging platforms. «Spear-phishing is a common but all-too-effective tactic used by threat actors attempting to gain access to information, online accounts and devices,» the spokesperson stated. «The National Cyber Security Centre is working with partners in Government and UK Parliament in response to recent targeting against commercial messaging apps including Signal and WhatsApp.»
The Government strongly encouraged high-risk individuals to follow NCSC guidance and subscribe to cyber defence services for enhanced protection.
Previous warnings
Last month, parliamentarians received a separate warning about attempts by the Chinese intelligence service to recruit them. Security minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons that China was trying to "recruit and cultivate" individuals with access to sensitive information concerning Parliament and the UK Government, often using cover companies and head-hunters.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
