The UK's Foreign Office has confirmed a large cyber attack. This happened in October. The office is called the FCDO. The attack has caused worry about private information. Reports suggest a link to a Chinese hacking group. This shows that government computer systems are at risk.
Trade Minister Chris Bryant spoke about the problem. He said, "There was a hack at the FCDO." He added that they knew about it since October. The office has been investigating for some time. An FCDO spokesperson said, "We are investigating a cyber incident." They also said, "We take security very seriously." However, they did not give many details.
Investigators are looking for connections. They are checking if it is related to the ArcaneDoor hacking campaign. This campaign was found earlier this year. It is thought to be from a skilled government group. This group has attacked government computers before. A security company, Cisco, warned about ArcaneDoor in September. This was close to when the FCDO knew about the attack. The exact methods used are not known.
The attack may have involved private information. This could be for thousands of people. Visa details might have been taken. This is a big privacy concern. The Sun newspaper thinks a Chinese group called Storm 1849 is responsible. This group has attacked people critical of China before. They may have wanted information or to influence things.
A minister tried to calm people's fears. They said the risk to individuals is low. However, stolen visa details are a big problem. This event reminds us of the dangers from cyber attackers. It shows the need for strong computer security. It also shows the need for countries to work together.