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Security experts have warned that the UK government is relying on “good will” when it comes to cyber defence, following a massive hack on the Ministry of Defence reportedly carried out by China.
The names and bank details of tens of thousands of British armed forces personnel and veterans were compromised after a third-party payroll system was breached, in what some industry figures have labelled a “totally avoidable” attack.
Experts point to out-of-date security systems and inadequate funding for public sector cyber defence. Shortly after reports of the attack emerged, a job posting for a position as “Head of Cyber Security” within a government department was widely shared online, revealing an annual salary of £50,550 – £57,500 – well below salary levels of equivalent roles in the private sector.
“These roles fundamentally offer much lower salaries as there simply isn’t the money available and therefore the government tend to rely on people’s…
