At least three MPs had their passwords stolen after a suspected hack from Russia on parliament's email network

AT LEAST three MPs had their passwords compromised during the recent cyber hack on parliament, it has emerged.

It was originally feared that up to 90 email accounts were compromised in a recent attack.


This would have represented just one per cent of the 9,000 email accounts on the system.

Cyber specialists said that the attack “appears to have been state-sponsored” and Russia is the most likely culprit – prompting worries MPs could be at risk of blackmail or terror attacks.

The cyber attack, which took place over more than 12 hours at the end of last month, saw unknown rogue hackers probe “weak” passwords belonging to politicians and aides across the UK.

The affected network is used by every MP in the UK – including Prime Minister Theresa May.

But new data was released by the House of Commons Commission which seemed to suggest it wasn't quite as bad as previously thought.

Email systems were down in Parliament for all MPs, staff and researchers for a number of days.

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New parliament passes to be rolled out following Westminster terror attack

NEW double-sided passes with 'distinctive holograms' are to be rolled out to MPs following the Westminster terror attack.

Fresh identity cards will be given out from this autumn after a review of security.

Sick Khalid Massood ran into Parliament and murdered PC Keith Palmer just inside the gates of the estate back in March, after mowing down pedestrians on Westminster bridge.

Physical barriers have shot up on a number of bridges since the incident.

Lords Speaker Lord Fowler stressed to politicians today the importance of staff and MPs wearing their passes at all times.

"Regrettably, there is still a small but significant number of members and staff from both houses who do not wear their passes while on the estate," he said.

"The review makes it clear that efforts to secure the perimeter of the parliamentary estate will be undermined if individuals fail to take security seriously."

The news comes just weeks after passwords used by CABINET ministers were being sold online by hackers.

Sensitive email addresses and passwords used by education secretary Justine Greening and business secretary Greg Clark were said to be among those being sold off.

The ministers security info was among stolen credentials of tens of thousands of government officials that were sold or bartered on Russian-speaking hacking sites, reported The Times.

The attacks have been part of a string of hacks in recent months – including on the NHS.

More than 200,000 victims were hit as hackers demanded ransom payments.

Staff were forced to cancel or postpone operations and appointments as several hospitals and GPs surgeries were crippled by the hack.

Security officials claimed that North Korea carried it out – two years are the same group apparently targeted Sony Pictures.

 

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