'China hacked British Ministry of Defense payroll system'

Chinese state hackers have hacked the British Ministry of Defense, according to British media. The hackers would have had access to soldiers' data. The British government confirms that a hack has taken place, but does not mention China.

A British minister confirms to Sky News that the ministry has been hacked and says that the ministry found out about this in recent days. Anonymous sources told Sky that hackers from China made several attempts to gain access to the ministry's systems. The target was the payroll system of both active personnel and veterans. Bank details and names of staff may have been taken in the attack.

Another British minister says financially vulnerable people may have been targeted, with the idea that they could be pressured in exchange for money. China itself denies that it carried out an attack.

It is not the first time that China has been accused of cyber attacks on British government institutions. In March, the British government said that China carried out attacks on UK democratic institutions and parliamentarians in 2021 and 2022. The names and addresses of around 40 million Britons were captured in these attacks.