HC Deb 02 February 2000 vol 343 cc589-90W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [106232]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 31 January 2000]: There is no evidence of a successful incursion, from an external source, to any Departmental computer system during the past five years. There were two cases during 1999 of corruption of Websites holding Unclassified MOD information. Measures have been taken to secure both these sites. There are widespread and frequent probes of MOD firewalls connected to the Internet, which do not result in successful penetrations of MOD systems. There have, however, been 25 recorded instances during the past five years of internal incursions by MOD staff, none of which had any operational impact. Appropriate disciplinary measures were taken, as required, in each case.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of computer(a) fraud, including fraudulent use of computer chips and (b) theft his Department has recorded in the last five years. [106213]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 31 January 2000]: There have been no cases in the past five years in which MOD computers have been used to directly expedite a fraud against the MOD. There have been 18 cases where MOD computers have been used in support of fraudulent activities. There have been 594 reported cases of computer theft within the MOD over the past five years.