Security threats Toolkit

Malware hits 8pc of Commons computers

Kable

Published: 21 May 2009 09:19 BST

Nearly 400 computers at the House of Commons needed attention after malware attacks during the past 12 months.

Out of nearly 5,000 computers used by MPs, their staff and Commons administrators, eight percent had to be visited by an ICT specialist because of problems with malware.

The information was revealed by Nick Harvey, a Liberal Democrat MP and member of the House of Commons Commission, the body responsible for the administration and services of the House. Harvey was replying to a parliamentary written question from Conservative MP Tim Loughton.

Harvey said that over the last year 86 percent of computers on the Commons estate had been attacked by malware, but 78 percent of these were automatically cleaned by Parliament's antivirus software.

At time of writing, the House of Commons had not responded to an enquiry by GC News about the number of attacks on its technology.

Loughton also asked selected ministers for details of malware attacks during 2008. Treasury minister Angela Eagle said that out of her department's 1,600 computers, malware had been detected and removed from four.

Health minister Ben Bradshaw said there were no instances of malware at the Department of Health, while ministers for the departments of transport, communities and local government and children, schools and families said they did not hold information about the issue.