- MI5 warns UK politicians about spy threats from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea
- Threat actors use phishing, blackmail, and relationship building to manipulate and recruit targets.
- Officials urged to follow BEST principles and stay up to date with NCSC and NPSA guidance
MI5, the UK’s security and counterintelligence agency, has published new guidance to warn MPs and other members of the government that they are being actively targeted by malicious actors from China, Russia and Iran.
“Espionage and foreign interference pose a significant threat to the UK’s democracy, economy and fundamental rights and freedoms,” the guidance warns.
“As an elected politician, candidate, member of the House of Lords or member of staff, you are a potential target. Protect yourself and your team by understanding the threat and implementing simple countermeasures.”
How to stay safe
MI5 said spies seek to exfiltrate sensitive information about the country through different means, from blackmail to phishing. They often engage in building deep, long-term relationships, not only to gather information, but also to manipulate and recruit. This cultivation begins with a simple introduction, pointing out shared interests and social gatherings.
“Even if you resist manipulation, a threat actor can use any association with you to lend credibility to their approaches to others,” MI5 added.
To stay safe, MI5 advises MPs to keep up to date with guidance from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and other security teams. They should also use the BEST principles for taking simple actions (be alert, improve security abroad, protect your information, trust your instincts).
China, Russia, Iran and North Korea targeting Western countries is nothing new, but attribution is quite complicated. Last week, UK prosecutors had to abandon the trial of two British men accused of spying for China, because the British government did not provide strong enough evidence to prove their claims.
In 2022, US prosecutors charged two suspected Chinese spies with interfering in a criminal investigation against Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, and in 2019, Polish authorities arrested a Chinese Huawei employee and a Polish citizen on spying allegations.
Through PakGazette
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