Allegations have emerged that Russian hackers have stolen a significant number of confidential military files and made them accessible on the dark web, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that it is actively looking into these claims and emphasized its proactive stance against cyber threats.
Reports suggest that the stolen documents include sensitive information about eight RAF and Royal Navy bases, along with personal details of MoD employees, all of which have been shared on the dark web by the hackers.
An article in the Mail on Sunday disclosed that the cybercriminals managed to breach a maintenance and construction contractor used by the MoD to obtain access to these files.
The breach targeted a third-party entity, the Dodd Group, in September, with the hackers issuing a warning message indicating the urgency of the situation.
Exposed documents contain detailed information on classified Navy and RAF bases, including RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which houses the US Air Force’s F-35 stealth jets.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence stated, “We are taking decisive steps to address potential cyber threats that could jeopardize national security. The alleged dissemination of MOD-related data on the Dark Web is under active investigation.”
“In order to protect sensitive operational data, we will refrain from providing further details,” the spokesperson added.
This incident follows a series of notable data breaches within the MoD, including a large-scale hack last year that compromised personal information, such as names, bank details, and addresses, of service personnel and veterans.
It was revealed that up to 272,000 service members may have been impacted by this breach.
Additionally, the Government established the Afghanistan Response Route in response to an inadvertent leak of personal information of individuals in Afghanistan earlier this year.