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Ex GCHQ employee risk to national security

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  • phenomlab
    phenomlab
    phenomlab
    wrote on
    #1

    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 Cutting also advises organisations as a Fractional CIO, Fractional CISO and Executive Advisor, helping boards improve technology governance, cyber resilience and executive decision making. Learn more at Gratmore Ltd

    1
  • phenomlab 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.

    Madchatthew
    Madchatthew
    Madchatthew
    wrote on
    #2

    @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
  • Madchatthew 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.

    phenomlab
    phenomlab
    phenomlab
    wrote on
    #3

    @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 Cutting also advises organisations as a Fractional CIO, Fractional CISO and Executive Advisor, helping boards improve technology governance, cyber resilience and executive decision making. Learn more at Gratmore Ltd

    0
  • phenomlab 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.

    Madchatthew
    Madchatthew
    Madchatthew
    wrote on
    #4

    @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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