{"id":1085,"date":"2023-09-14T15:38:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T15:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/greater-manchester-police-officers-details-hacked-in-cyber-attack\/"},"modified":"2023-09-14T15:38:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T15:38:51","slug":"greater-manchester-police-officers-details-hacked-in-cyber-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/greater-manchester-police-officers-details-hacked-in-cyber-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Greater Manchester Police officers’ details hacked in cyber attack"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greater Manchester Police officers’ details hacked in cyber attack<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Greater<\/picture><\/span>PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Police officers’ personal details have been hacked after a company was targeted in a cyber attack.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The firm in Stockport, which makes ID cards, holds information on various UK organisations including some of the staff employed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The force confirmed it was aware of the ransomware attack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The hack means thousands of police officers’ names are at risk of being placed in the public domain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

One officer, speaking anonymously to the BBC, said while the names of many officers were publicly available, there was particular concern regarding the identities of undercover officers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said he understood how concerning the matter was. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“At this stage, it’s not believed this data includes financial information,” he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“We have contacted the Information Commissioner’s Office and are doing everything we can to ensure employees are kept informed, their questions are answered, and they feel supported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“This is being treated extremely seriously, with a nationally-led criminal investigation into the attack.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

‘Worrying’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

It comes just over a month after a major data breach within the Police Service of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

In that incident, surnames and initials of 10,000 police employees were accidentally included in a response to a Freedom of Information request.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

The details were then published online before being removed. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Last month, the Metropolitan Police was also put on alert after a similar security breach involving one of its suppliers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Ed Gibson, a former FBI investigator who also headed cyber security at Microsoft UK, said any report of hacking of law enforcement data was “extremely worrying”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“You don’t want this stuff falling into the wrong hands,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He said any company facing a ransom demand should “get it investigated, don’t pay up”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

This kind of extortion is very lucrative for criminals, he said, adding: “It used to be a horse’s head in the bed now its an email to your IT department.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\"Mike<\/picture><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span>GMP Federation<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Mike Peake, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: “Our colleagues are undertaking some of the most difficult and dangerous roles imaginable to catch criminals and keep the public safe. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“To have any personal details potentially leaked into the public domain in this manner – for all to possibly see – will understandably cause many officers concern and anxiety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

“We are working with the force to mitigate the dangers and risks that this breach could have on our colleagues.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\"Presentational<\/picture><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Why not follow BBC North West on <\/i>Facebook, <\/i>X and <\/i>Instagram? You can also send story ideas to <\/i>northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n