State secrets 'under attack from Chinese hackers'

Government systems storing state secrets are under constant attack from organised Chinese computer hackers, Whitehall sources have disclosed.

They are in a constant battle to prevent highly sensitive information being compromised by electronic espionage from the other side of the world. The same threat is faced by Britain's biggest companies, and even the authorities at the House of Commons, it was claimed yesterday.

The Foreign Office refused to comment on claims that it had been targeted by co-ordinated attacks from Chinese hackers. But one senior Whitehall source said: "Governments throughout the West have been aware of this for a number of years. It has been an ongoing practice by the Chinese. They are trying it all the time. The firewalls that need to go in are going in."

MPs of all parties demanded that ministers reassure the public that Whitehall computer systems are protected amid calls for the Government to put pressure on Beijing to halt the hackers.

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, a cross-governmental body linked to MI5, warns that the potential for electronic attack against computer systems is "enormous", with opportunities for hackers increasing.

A formal alert was issued by the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre two years ago, warning business and government departments of "Trojan email" attacks from the Far East on an "almost industrial" scale. But officials said they were not aware of any successful subsequent attacks on British systems.

Andrew MacKinlay, a Labour member of the House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, said: "I have reason to believe this is done with the full knowledge and consent of people in the Chinese government or military. It's not just computer geeks... it's clearly orchestrated."