Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 10 December 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 December 1999. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 December 1999 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on how many occasions in each of the past five years computer systems in his Department have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (a) within and (b) outside the Department. - (Holding answer 15 December 1999).

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in each of the past five years computer systems in his Department have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (a) within and (b) outside the Department. [102834] Ms Hewitt: [holding answer 15 December 1999]: Over the past five years there have been two reported occasions on which my Department's computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers. One incident reported in 1996 was external and the other in 1999 was internal and both were classified as minor incidents. There was also one minor incident reported in 1999 which, technically speaking, did not involve access by computer hackers but where one of my Department's systems was illegally used as a redistribution point for e-mail traffic. There have also been five reported unsuccessful hacking attempts over the past five years. These figures include next step agencies.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 341 c453W; 102834
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Crime Computers Department of Trade and Industry Government departments Security Hacking