Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 29 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 February 2002. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Monday, 4 February 2002 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 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in 2001 attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to computers in his Department by hacking; and of those how many were successful. [32738] Mr. MacShane: In 2001 there were three occasions when unauthorised access to FCO systems were identified. On the first occasion successful access was gained to the FCO's website, and the internet service provider has subsequently put stronger firewalls in place. The second and third occasions both involved access to FCO computer systems through weaknesses which have now been resolved. In common with other Departments, no facility exists to alert to FCO to unsuccessful attempts to gain unauthorised access.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 32738; 379 c771W;379 c767W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Crime Computers Government departments Security Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hacking
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk