Hackers Potentially Have Access to Home Addresses of Metropolitan Police Officers
In a concerning turn of events, the personal home addresses of some Metropolitan Police officers are believed to be compromised due to a recent cyber attack. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has taken steps to alleviate the concerns of the police force’s 47,000 officers and support staff, assuring them that the breach in question did not expose their personal information. The breach occurred at a company responsible for producing warrant cards and passes for the police.
Initial findings from a survey conducted by Stockport-based Digital ID, which manages data for the Metropolitan Police, reveal that data from approximately 2,000 officers could potentially be accessed by hackers. The data breach raises concerns about the security of officers’ home addresses.
This breach was discovered following the implementation of Operation Fortress, a security enhancement initiative that involved issuing new warrant cards and passes. The incident revealed that news of the breach was initially communicated through an internal intranet platform during a Bank Holiday weekend, instead of being directly sent to officers via email. Consequently, many officers only learned about the breach through our exclusive report on the matter.
Apologizing for the situation, Sir Mark emphasized that the compromised data did not include highly sensitive information such as addresses or financial data. However, he acknowledged the broader concerns caused by the breach. Digital ID is now conducting a comprehensive review of all data stored on behalf of the Metropolitan Police.
The nature of the hackers is believed to be related to blackmail rather than terrorism. The Metropolitan Police intend to personally inform staff members whose home addresses may have been jeopardized. Former Metropolitan Police commander John O’Connor expressed concern over the recklessness of the situation, particularly its potential impact on officers involved in undercover operations.
The National Crime Agency is leading the investigation into the breach, with support from the National Cyber Security Centre. The Metropolitan Police have referred to the incident as a “complex” one and acknowledged that their understanding of the extent of data risk is evolving. The force is collaborating with technical experts to address the situation and is ensuring that staff members are kept informed.
It is worth noting that other law enforcement agencies, government departments, and major corporations also utilized services from Digital ID. These entities primarily utilized the company’s printing equipment rather than sharing sensitive information.