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Cyber-attack: Microsoft

20 July 2021

Lead MP

James Cleverly

Debate Type

Ministerial Statement

Tags

EconomyForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 29

At a Glance

James Cleverly raised concerns about cyber-attack: microsoft in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Government Statement

EconomyForeign Affairs
Government Statement
Yesterday, the UK Government attributed a major cyber-attack on Microsoft Exchange servers to Chinese state-backed groups. This attack, which was intended for espionage and data theft, affected global networks, including those in the UK. The Foreign Secretary announced that the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) is responsible for activities known as APT40 and APT31. At the end of March, 92% of customers had installed updates to protect against these vulnerabilities. Thirty-nine countries, including the EU, NATO, US, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Japan, have formally attributed responsibility to China. The UK is calling for China to adhere to commitments made in 2015 regarding cyber-attacks.

Shadow Comment

Iain Duncan Smith
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister criticised the Government for not making a statement yesterday when they could have. He questioned why the UK is allowing Chinese firms to buy critical British technology companies despite known aggressive cyber activities by China, and asked why no criminal charges were brought against operatives here as was done in the US. Duncan Smith also called on the Government to consider boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics due to ongoing threats from China.
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