Virus may have come from Russia

Monday, January 19, 2009

The computer virus that has paralysed the internet and e-mail in the Royal Navy's fleet and at numerous RAF bases may have resulted in a serious international security breach it has emerged.

The worm virus has allegedly been diverting e-mails and other sensitive data to a Russian server.

According to Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, an MoD official told him "e-mail traffic from some RAF stations was sent to a Russian internet server."

One RAF IT official confirmed the virus's origin to the Sunday Times, saying that it definitely came from the Eastern Bloc.

The details come as the true extent of the damage the virus has incurred on the MoD has been revealed. Up to 24 RAF bases are without internet or e-mail service, forcing some fight plans to be loaded onto backup systems. In addition 75 per cent of the fleet is without e-mail or internet including the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. Commanders have been forced to use mobile phones to relay orders with officials in the UK.

The MoD has denied that any secure systems have been breached. Last week the ministry labelled the virus a "minor blip."