Russian hackers target MoD contractor in data leak

Latest breach adds to a series of cybersecurity lapses involving MoD contractors.

The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating allegations that Russian hackers stole and leaked hundreds of classified military documents on the dark web, including sensitive information on eight RAF and Royal Navy bases, according to the BBC.

The files, first reported by The Mail on Sunday, are said to contain staff names, email addresses, and details related to sites such as RAF Lakenheath, which houses U.S. F-35 fighter jets.

The breach reportedly originated from a ransomware attack on Dodd Group, a maintenance and construction contractor working with the MoD.

The company confirmed the cyber incident, saying it had "swiftly secured" its systems and hired a forensic team to assess the damage. The MoD said it is "actively investigating the claims" but declined to share further details for security reasons.

The breach adds to a series of cybersecurity lapses involving MoD contractors, following previous leaks that exposed personal data of Afghan evacuees and serving military personnel.

Written by

Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.