Written question asked by David Atkinson (Conservative) on Monday, 2 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 February 1998. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Monday, 9 February 1998 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many attempts by hackers to breach security in his Department's computers were detected in 1996 and 1997; and how many of these were successful.

Answer: Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attempts by hackers to breach security in his Department's computers were detected in 1996 and 1997; and how many of these were successful. [27871] Mr. Spellar: A comprehensive security policy on connectivity to public data networks is enforced throughout the MOD. There is no evidence of a successful incursion, from an external source, into any Departmental computer system in the period 1996-1997. There has been one instance known to us of a failed attempt over this period.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 27871; 306 c71-2W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Data protection Computers Fraud Government departments Ministry of Defence Hacking
Contains statistics: Yes