Russian cyber crooks 'targeting British soldiers by trying to hack their phones'

13 May 2024 , 18:04

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The mobile phones of British mobile phones may be broken into by the Russians (Image: Corporal Nathan GM Tanuku)

Nato has warned British soldiers Russian cyber criminals are attempting to break into their mobile phones as they carry out exercises.

The spies are said to be trying to take the personal details from the phones in an attempt to discover the strength of the fighting force. The attempt could also be used to intimidate the troops by targeting their families by taking their personal information. The acts of espionage can be carried out by sophisticated drones flying overhead, as well as portable antennas on the ground, according to The Times.

Thousands of Brits have been deployed to countries bordering Russia. Lieutenant Colonel Grant Brown was quoted as saying: “We must be under no illusions — Russia will be watching us as we prepare, as we deploy, and as we are operating in Europe. That’s a good thing, it is the whole point of this deployment. But it will mean a rigorous approach to things like the use of mobile phones while out in theatre. We must expect Russian agents to be conducting an electronic collect on us while there, so the measures we will have in place are designed to protect all of us.”

Earlier this year British military secrets were allegedly leaked to Russia after a German air chief's phone call was intercepted. Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz referred to how UK troops are "on the ground" in , a move which reportedly has Moscow convinced Nato allies are preparing to fight.

The private 38-minute call with Air Force officers and a general via a WebEx platform also referred to how Britain and France are delivering Storm Shadow rockets to Kyiv. German chancellor Olaf Scholz ordered an investigation back in March, labelling the leak "very serious". He said: "It is a very serious matter and that is why it is now being investigated very carefully, very intensively and very quickly."

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Former Army chief Lord Dannatt has said those involved should be "censured pretty heavily". He told Times Radio: "I was very disappointed to read the story. I think the German air force officers who were talking on an open line, frankly, they should be censured pretty heavily. They are suggesting there are British people in Ukraine. It's not for you or me to comment on that. We have provided a lot of equipment to them. We provided a lot of training. As far as I'm concerned, I think what they were talking about was whether they would or wouldn't supply a German system akin to our Storm Shadow.”

Antony Clements-Thrower