Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 19 January 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 January 2000. It was answered by John Battle (Labour) on Monday, 31 January 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 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 his Department.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 his Department. [106228] Mr. Battle: In the last five years, there has been no evidence of FCO staff accessing systems to which they are not authorised. Over this period there has been only one known unauthorised entry from outside the department. This occurred in 1995 when an unknown hacker gained access to an unclassified internal system.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 106228; 343 c460W
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Crime Computers Government departments Security Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hacking