British Parliament Locked Out of Email in Cyberattack

Attack from unknown source targeted hundreds of MPs, lords, others
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2017 1:14 PM CDT
Hundreds Targeted in Cyberattack on UK Parliament
A cyberattack on British Parliament late Friday led to MPs, lords, staff, and others being locked out of their official email accounts.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Hackers attempted to break into the email accounts of MPs, lords, and staff in a cyberattack on British Parliament this weekend, USA Today reports. According to an email passed along to the Huffington Post, the hackers were “carrying out a sustained and determined attack on all Parliamentary user accounts in attempt to identify weak passwords." One expert tells the Independent it appears the cyberattack was detected quick enough that hackers were prevented from getting any sensitive information.

“We have systems in place to protect member and staff accounts and are taking the necessary steps to protect our systems," a Parliamentary spokesperson says. Those steps included shutting off access to Parliamentary email accounts for anyone outside the Palace of Westminster. MPs, who were told of the cyberattack Friday night, woke up Saturday unable to sign in. "Sorry no parliamentary email access today—we're under cyber attack from Kim Jong Un, Putin or a kid in his mom's basement or something," MP Henry Smith tweeted, following it up with, "I'm off to the pub." It's unclear who is behind the cyberattack. (More cyberattack stories.)

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