Hackers disabled tracking devices and panic alarms on prison vans

• A cyberattack targeted search instrumentality supplier Microlise
• UK Government contractor Serco affected successful nan incident
• Prison van search devices and panic alarms taken offline

A cyberattack targeting telematics and exertion solutions patient Microlise has taken search package utilized for prisoners offline.

The package is utilized by outsourcing elephantine Serco to supply protection for labor and to show prisoners, keeping way of their whereabouts.

Microlise provides a ‘seamless eco-system astir distant assets for operators’ to a number of ample corporations pinch lorry fleets, and nan onslaught besides affected panic alarms wrong Serco situation vans and definitive message courier DHL, whose fleets were near without search capabilities.

Outsourced security

Microlise told nan London Stock Exchange it was, “working difficult to quickly bring nan affected services backmost online” successful its notification of nan incident. Crews were said to person been sent retired without due information for unit members.

The contingency plans outlined by Serco included crews contacting guidelines each 30 minutes, unit utilizing ‘paper maps and guidance’ and ensuring mobile devices are charged.

“We are alert that 1 of our subcontractors has been impacted by a cyber incident. We person put successful spot mitigation plans and we person continued to supply captive escorting services uninterrupted for nan Ministry of Justice,” said Serco.

Microlise has since confirmed immoderate systems person now been restored, and that it has appointed outer cybersecurity specialists to afloat reconstruct each affected systems.

Serco came nether scrutiny earlier successful 2024 for failing to fresh hundreds of prisoners pinch physics tags aft they were released early arsenic portion of Starmer’s scheme to easiness overcrowding. This was not nan first clip Serco has been criticised, arsenic a erstwhile tagging ungraded led to a Serious Fraud Office investigation.

“Serco has a agelong history of mediocre capacity and negligent behaviour connected tagging contracts and needs to beryllium held to relationship by nan MoJ [Ministry of Justice]” said Chair of nan Justice Select Committee, Andy Slaughter.

Serco holds a number of authorities contracts, and precocious opened Britain’s first ‘smart prison’, HMP Fosse Way. The ‘resettlement prison’ boasts smart exertion specified arsenic in-cell devices and robust security, including ‘cutting separator assemblage scanners’ to forestall contraband.

Via Financial Times

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