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Ex GCHQ employee risk to national security

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  • phenomlabundefined

    Just seen this news article about a breach of security at GCHQ.

    https://news.sky.com/story/ex-gchq-employee-pleads-guilty-to-causing-risk-to-national-security-13339410

    Given this is GCHQ, the information taken was classified as “Top Secret” and in the wrong hands could cause the UK significant harm, you have to ask yourself about the level of “security” in place here.

    Surely, you’d have basic controls in place to prevent data leakage by at least locking down USB ports, and who on secondment has access to highly restricted areas??

    Crazy.

    Mark – Founder, Phenomlab Ltd
    Executive IT & Security Leadership
    Phenomlab Ltd

    1
  • phenomlabundefined phenomlab

    Just seen this news article about a breach of security at GCHQ.

    https://news.sky.com/story/ex-gchq-employee-pleads-guilty-to-causing-risk-to-national-security-13339410

    Given this is GCHQ, the information taken was classified as “Top Secret” and in the wrong hands could cause the UK significant harm, you have to ask yourself about the level of “security” in place here.

    Surely, you’d have basic controls in place to prevent data leakage by at least locking down USB ports, and who on secondment has access to highly restricted areas??

    Crazy.

    Madchatthewundefined

    @phenomlab you would think they would have that security setup with strict policies. I mean even the hospital here as the usb ports locked down so you can’t use a usb drive or your phone to plug into the computer. Sometimes it makes me wonder if someone just forgot about that part or if there was something in that information they wanted leaked, which wouldn’t make sense if it puts people or a whole nation at risk.

    0
  • Madchatthewundefined Madchatthew

    @phenomlab you would think they would have that security setup with strict policies. I mean even the hospital here as the usb ports locked down so you can’t use a usb drive or your phone to plug into the computer. Sometimes it makes me wonder if someone just forgot about that part or if there was something in that information they wanted leaked, which wouldn’t make sense if it puts people or a whole nation at risk.

    phenomlabundefined

    @Madchatthew Yes, it’s hard to fathom and makes zero sense. The firm I work at locks down USB ports meaning you can at least charge a device, but you can’t use it as a mechanism for mass storage. I can’t believe also that security is so lax that someone without adequate clearance can waltz into a restricted area and take what they want.

    Mark – Founder, Phenomlab Ltd
    Executive IT & Security Leadership
    Phenomlab Ltd

    0
  • phenomlabundefined phenomlab

    @Madchatthew Yes, it’s hard to fathom and makes zero sense. The firm I work at locks down USB ports meaning you can at least charge a device, but you can’t use it as a mechanism for mass storage. I can’t believe also that security is so lax that someone without adequate clearance can waltz into a restricted area and take what they want.

    Madchatthewundefined

    @phenomlab said in Ex GCHQ employee risk to national security:

    I can’t believe also that security is so lax that someone without adequate clearance can waltz into a restricted area and take what they want.

    Yeah I can’t believe that either. It is crazy

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