The warning follows what Microsoft said was a state-sponsored espionage campaign from a group based in China.
Alexander J Martin, technology reporter
Alexander Martin
Technology reporter @AlexMartin
Friday 12 March 2021 17:52, UK
CHINAGCHQMICROSOFTUNITED KINGDOM
GCHQ
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GCHQ is warning UK businesses to update their email servers
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The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, is warning businesses to urgently update their Microsoft email servers following a state-sponsored espionage campaign.
Microsoft has warned that multiple groups are taking advantage of a global and indiscriminate hack of its clients’ on-premise email servers, attributing the attack to state-sponsored group based in China, with tens of thousands of potential victims worldwide.
The NCSC has stressed the immediate need for organisations to patch their vulnerable Microsoft Exchange servers, amid warnings that the careless techniques used by the attackers could also enable criminals to piggyback into victims’ networks.
In this Nov. 10, 2016, photo, people walk near a Microsoft office in New York. Microsoft Corp. reports quarterly financial results on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Swayne B. Hall)
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Microsoft said a state-sponsored espionage group hacked it
Sky News understands there were no compromises of public sector organisations in the UK as a result of the state-sponsored attack using vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange.
Security officials believe there could be up to 8,000 vulnerable Microsoft servers in the country’s private sector, although they estimate roughly half of these may have been patched.