Cyber attacks 2013 to 2015

You asked

​I would like to know the following:

How many attempts - successful or non-successful - minor cyber attacks have been carried out on departmental computers over the past three years: 2013, 2014 and 2015

(https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/howmanyattemptssuccessfulornonsuccessfulminorcyberattackshavebeencarriedoutondepartmentalcomputersoverthepastthreeyears20132014and2015)

Cyber Attacks 2012 to 2017

(https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/cyberattacks2012to2017)

We said

Thank you for your request.

It is important to note that the requests you have referenced are for information on our own experience of Cyber Attacks. As already outline in response to these requests, we are unable to provide you with the information. We consider the knowledge of cyber-attack attempts – successful or non-successful – would reveal the level of IT protection employed and therefore aid anyone wishing to launch a viral attack on our IT systems. S.31(1)(a) is still engaged, the public interest tests are still the same, and they still fall in favour of withholding the information.

If you are interested in Cyber Crime for the UK, we published a response to an FOI request in April of this year that may be of interest to you;

https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/cybercrimeintheuk