UK government is targeted by Asian hackers

Hackers in Asia are targeting UK government and company &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/366/14396_nkorea.html ' target=_blank>computer networks in an attempt to steal valuable information, an official agency warned today.

The National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre (NISCC) issued one of its most high-profile warnings about the sophisticated attacks, which it said were targeting parts of Britain's "critical national infrastructure."

"While the majority of the observed attacks have been against central government, other UK organisations, companies and individuals are also at risk," the NISCC - which reports to the Home Office - added.

The agency said it had noticed a "recent increase in sophistication" in electronic attacks on Britain's IT networks in the fields of finance, &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/89/355/14704_Vympelcom.html ' target=_blank>telecommunications, energy, health and transport.

It said the attackers were using so-called Trojan emails to gain access to the systems. The unsolicited mails use subject lines referring to news articles of interest to the recipients, and have addresses making them appear to be from trusted contacts, informs the Guardian Unlimited.