“Since that time, we’ve seen the Chinese government grow increasingly bold in their attacks on Western government’s information systems. Even though it is early in the investigation, this case in the UK bears similar markers to that of the OPM attack. Without more details, it is hard to say with any degree of certainty about the identity of the attackers.”
“In terms of response, the conventional option is to sanction individuals responsible, though this will likely not yield satisfactory results. To my knowledge, none of the individuals associated with the OPM breach who were sanctioned by the US Government have been arrested. A bolder step might include more direct cyber action, but this has the potential to escalate already heightened tensions between the UK (and the West) and China.”
“The danger of this attack is that it underscores the ability of a major global power to act in a way designed for intelligence gathering but also intimidation, without fear of significant recourse. This is also a vulnerable time for the UK, leading up to an election that might see a significant change in government. If this is, indeed, proven to be the work of the Chinese government, the challenge for the UK government will be to mount a penalty that is effective in deterring these actions without taking away much-needed diplomatic energy from supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, or bringing an end to the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Jamie Akhtar, Co-Founder and CEO at CyberSmart:
“Sadly, this isn’t likely to be the last time we discuss nation-state attacks on the UK, particularly with an election later this year. Cyber warfare and espionage between states have become a regular feature of geopolitics in the twenty-first century.”
“However, it does emphasise the continuing need for the UK to continually refine its holistic cybersecurity strategy. Defence needs to go further than protection for state institutions. As we’ve seen time and again, nation-state actors will also target businesses that provide services to the government too. Without a defence strategy that incorporates every aspect of society, from small businesses to schools to state bodies, nation-state actors will keep finding new routes in.”
Javvad Malik, lead security awareness advocate at KnowBe4:
“Such attacks are not new but follow a pattern where China, as well as other nation-states, have been implicated in cyber espionage activities aimed at gathering significant data that can be leveraged for multiple purposes, including but not limited to influencing political outcomes, understanding internal policy debates, and setting the stage for more aggressive cyber campaigns.”
“Nation state attacks are often perceived as being highly sophisticated, and while there sometimes is the use of custom malware to compromise systems and exfiltrate data without detection; the vast majority of breaches are successful due to spear-phishing campaigns, and exploitation of software vulnerabilities.”
“The impact of such a breach on UK-Sino relations could be profound. It’s likely to escalate tensions, leading to diplomatic strain and potentially resulting in retaliatory actions in the cyber domain or other areas of bilateral cooperation. Moreover, this situation necessitates a robust response not only in terms of securing compromised systems and preventing further breaches but also in reinforcing the international legal and norms-based systems governing state behaviour in cyberspace.”
“To mitigate the aftermath and prevent future incidents, it’s crucial for nations to invest in stronger cybersecurity defences, international collaboration, and developing capabilities to deter adversaries in the cyberspace domain. Additionally, fostering a culture of security awareness among political entities and the general public plays an essential role in defending against such sophisticated attacks.”