MPs targeted in cyber attacks earlier in year

Security officials have claimed that MPs were deliberately targeted by hackers earlier in the year, raising concerns over politically motivated cyber attacks. The National Cyber Security Centre revealed that the attempts had involved so-called phishing attacks,and said they were woking hard to ensure that a similar repeat of the Russian attempt to hack the US presidential election last year does’t take place during the June general election. The attack is understood to have been aimed at personal email accounts rather than official ones and is reported to have hit fewer than 10 MPs. The NCSC has made guidance available about how candidates in the General Election can protect their digital systems and online profiles. A spokesperson for the National Cyber Security Centre said: “We have made guidance available about how candidates in the General Election can protect their digital systems and online profiles. This has been published on our website and parties will be signposted to the guidance by the Electoral Commission. “The NCSC has been and continues to offer political parties and candidates access to the best cyber security guidance and support. It is prudent to offer them advice if they think they have been the victim of a phishing campaign, and NCSC technical experts are available 24/7 to provide assistance and support.”