Since July, Liz Truss has had four new mobile phone numbers as security services fight to protect her from potential compromise by foreign powers.
The Mail on Sunday reported the previous week that the former prime minister had to alter her phone number during the summer leadership contest because it had been hacked by Russian-suspected agents.
Now, this newspaper can reveal new information about the panic the hack caused in Ms. Truss’s team and how she continues to suffer as a result.
A former aide claims that Foreign Secretary Truss was ‘ashen-faced’ when she learned that her phone number, which she had used for more than a decade, had been ‘compromised’
She was also informed that a year’s worth of messages, including exchanges with former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and sensitive information about military strategy in Ukraine, were in the possession of the individual who reported the security breach to her office.
The aide stated, “GCHQ placed Russia squarely at fault for the hack.” It was explained to Liz that the individual had agreed to hand over the items because they were obviously Russian.
An advisor in the room asked Ms. Truss what her concerns regarding the messages were. She is believed to have responded, “That’s between me and my guys.”
Ms. Truss first disclosed the incident to only two of her closest advisors out of concern that the information might become public, but as the campaign continued, more people were informed.
While detailing the events, Ms. Truss “exchanged anxious looks” with her political adviser in charge of national security policy, according to the aide.
As soon as they were made aware of the unprecedented security lapse, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case took steps to conceal the occurrence.
The individual who received the messages was strongly warned not to publish them for security reasons, according to the aide.
Concerns have been raised as to why GCHQ was ignorant of the intrusion until the individual came forward with the messages.
The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, who make up the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence alliance, are believed to have been told.
According to a security source, intelligence of this sort was shared with the Five Eyes as per standard protocol.
However, this likely occurred within the intelligence community and not at the ministerial level.’
Initially, security services suspected that Ms. Truss’ phone may have been hacked while she was abroad, either in her capacity as Foreign Secretary or International Trade Secretary.
According to one security source, many overlook the fact that such hacking is relatively simple. Numerous nations, like Tanzania, Ethiopia, etc., practice it.
Particular attention was devoted to Ms. Truss’s February travel to Moscow, where she met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the Ukraine problem.
However, according to sources familiar with the visit, it is doubtful that the hack occurred there.
“In Russia, Liz took great security procedures,” a government source claimed. She was provided with a temporary “burner” phone, and the plane transporting her did not land on Russian soil to safeguard the integrity of its own communications infrastructure.
GCHQ believes that the intrusion most likely occurred on British soil. After the event, a secure phone was provided to Ms. Truss for the remainder of the leadership campaign.
However, as she entered No. 10, it was determined that additional precautions were necessary. At the beginning of September, she received her third phone in as many months.
However, the third phone’s technology was so sensitive that when she resigned last month, she was compelled to return it and change her number for the fourth time.
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Defence Select Committee for the Conservative Party, stated, “This is an ongoing threat from Russia.”
They are becoming increasingly proficient in cyberattacks and hacking. The intelligence and security committee should investigate this matter.