see URL:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41997262
Not being a member of Twitter or Facebook, I wouldn't have a clue...but I voted
for Brexit...not because I love Russia or Putin, but because I think the
European Union is an undemocratic, massively bureaucratic, multi-national
state, dominated by Germany and France, and civil servants, which wishes to
extend itself into a European Empire controlled by a small group of
politicians. It cannot even balance its books, it cannot even do proper
annual accounting for its books....and it can't even control the Eurozone.
Quote<<<
One of the UK's cyber-defence chiefs has accused Russia of having attacked
Britain's media, telecommunications and energy sectors over the past year.
Ciaran Martin, chief executive of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC),
added that Russia was "seeking to undermine the international system".
His comments were made at an event organised by the Times newspaper.
Ahead of the speech, the paper reported that one of the attacks had targeted
the UK's power
supply<https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/kremlin-is-trying-to-undermine-us-says-cyberdefence-chief-2jg8vpxqf>
on election day.
The BBC has sought comment from the Russian Embassy in London.
The NCSC was established about a year ago. Last month, it revealed that it had
already classed a total of 590 attacks - from a variety of perpetrators - as
being "significant", and that more than 30 incidents had been judged serious
enough to require a cross-government response.
Mr Martin's accusations follow Prime Minister Theresa May's own claim that
Russia had "mounted a sustained campaign of cyber-espionage and disruption".
The NCSC chief referenced this in his own speech.
"The prime minister made the point on Monday night - international order as we
know it is in danger of being eroded," he said.
"This is clearly a cause for concern and the NCSC is actively engaging with
international partners, industry and civil society to tackle this threat."
To coincide with its event, the Times also published details of a new study
into how Russia used Twitter to influence 2016's Brexit referendum.
The research indicates that more than 156,000 Russia-based accounts - many of
them automated bots - mentioned #Brexit in original posts or retweets in the
days surrounding the vote.
Many were in favour of the UK leaving the European Union, but a minority were
pro-Remain. The academics involved believed the posts were seen hundreds of
millions of times.
One of the researchers told the BBC that social media was providing Russia with
a relatively cheap way to spread its propaganda.
'Powerful tool'
"Ukraine experienced [a similar] information war in 2014 - and if it worked in
Ukraine it can also work in Western democracies," said Prof Sasha Talavera from
Swansea University.
"One can use it to split society and marginalise groups. Social media nowadays
is a powerful tool."
He added that some form of regulation of the large social media firms might now
be required.
The Guardian reports details of a separate University of Edinburgh study that
also presents evidence of Russia using
Twitter<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/14/how-400-russia-run-fake-accounts-posted-bogus-brexit-tweets>
to sway opinion in the lead-up to the Brexit vote.
The Kremlin has previously denied trying to meddle in the referendum.
But the chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select
Committee, Damian Collins, said he now wanted Twitter to share examples of
tweets linked to a Russian "troll factory", known as the Internet Research
Agency, about British politics. >>>end of quote.
ATB
Dougie.
