Russia linked to hacking of Italian government

Italy’s foreign ministry was hacked last year, a source close to the department said yesterday, confirming a report in The Guardian which also said Russia was suspected of being involved.

Last spring hackers infiltrated the ministry’s system, which was then headed by Paolo Gentiloni, now the prime minister. The attacks continued for more than four months but hackers did not access classified information.

Mr Gentiloni was not affected by the attack as he avoided using email when he was foreign minister, a government official reportedly said.