MoD Finds No Data Breach Despite Chinese Component in Royal Navy Drones
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that there is no evidence of a data breach following the discovery of a Chinese-made component in the Royal Navy's new sea drones. During a routine cyber vulnerability assessment, it was found that the cameras in the drones sent a 'squark' or heartbeat communication to a Chinese IP address. This communication can indicate when the system is operational and can carry location information. Despite this, the MoD's investigation concluded that no data or systems were accessed, compromised, or transmitted externally. The supplier of the drones, Kraken, assured that no sensitive information was shared, although a third-party supplier provided the Chinese-made components. This incident highlights the challenges faced by defense sectors in avoiding Chinese supply chains, which are prevalent even in military equipment. 
