National Crime Agency (NCA) has started a detailed investigation into a cyber attack that took place on the servers of the National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA) members. This attack has led to concerns that they or their family members could be targeted by criminals who could either harm them or threaten them to surrender their firearms at a high price in the black market. This is all because of the strict firearm rules prevailing across the United Kingdom.
The attack took place in mid-last week, and the rifle owners association is busy sharing details with law enforcement to investigate the incident thoroughly and mitigate the risks associated with the attack.
Confirmed sources state that the attack took place on legacy servers, and the fresh smallbore rifle membership details were secure enough as they were stored on a separate set of computer networks. However, a high-ranking source confirmed that the data breach details could put the owners at risk as they could be contacted and threatened by those seeking weaponry on an illegal note.
Strangely, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) was also hit by a cyber-attack at the same time last year. Now the NSRA has hit the news headlines for the same reason.
It is better for gun owners to stay vigilant on what is happening around their homes for the next few months and possibly keep a strict vigil 24×7 via CCTV surveillance cameras or by other means, such as deployment of physical security. Some experts suggest keeping the rifle unloaded and locked up in a safe or a storage cabinet. It is also better to keep the bullets in a separate cabinet and hide the keys. Teens and preteens should be asked not to touch the weapon and handle the gun only under strict adult supervision.
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