Corbyn feeling ‘nervous’ after hacker attack
BY TORCUIL CRICHTON
HACKERS tried to take down the Labour Party computer system by bombarding its web services with malicious traffic, the party said yesterday.
Jeremy Corbyn said he was “very nervous” about attempts to disrupt the election after Labour was hit by a “serious” cyber-attack on Monday.
Security sources said the attack was considered a low-level hack but, speaking during a campaign trip to Blackpool, Corbyn claimed otherwise.
He said: “We have a system in place in our office to protect us against cyber attacks but it was a very serious attack against us. “So far as we are aware, none of our information was downloaded and the attack was repulsed because we have an effective in-house system by people within our party.”
The Labour leader added: “If this is a sign of things to come in this election, I feel very nervous about it all.
“Because a cyber attack against a political party in an election is suspicious and something one is very worried about.”
Corbyn said the attack was proof the UK needed “far better” capabilities against cyber strikes.
He said: ”A cyber attack has happened in 2017 against our National Health Service – it is something that is incredibly dangerous to the health records and the healthcare and treatment of millions of people.”
Labour reported Monday’s incident to the National Cyber Security Centre, which has worked closely with political parties for several years.
An official for the NCSC said: “The attack was not successful and the incident is now closed.”
But it emerged the party was hit by a second cyber attack on its digital platform yesterday afternoon.
It was unclear if the new attack was carried out by the same hackers as on Monday or a copycat attack but there was currently nothing to link either incident to a foreign state.
Boris Johnson has been slammed for delaying publication of a report by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee on Russian interference in British politics.
The PM is accused of fearing embarrassment over claims the report names the wealthy Russian exiles in the UK who are huge donors to the Tory party.