SAS computer hard drive lost in latest security blunder

Apr 12 2009 by Jeanette Oldham

A COMPUTER hard drive containing unencrypted details about SAS training operations has been lost, the Sunday Mercury can reveal.

The Government has launched a top-level investigation after the equipment went missing during a recent UK exercise by the Who Dares Wins regiment.

Military sources confirmed that the hard drive had been assigned to members of the Signals Regiment attached to the Hereford-based Special Forces unit.

The embarrassing loss was discovered after the SAS exercise had finished and an equipment audit was carried out. Astonishingly, the information the computer contained was not encrypted.

The Ministry of Defence insists that the hard drive did not hold highly sensitive information about SAS missions abroad – for example about targets or weapons.

But sources claim it probably contained in-depth details about SAS training exercises and/or the names of personnel taking part.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the Conservatives would be demanding answers about the blunder from the MoD.

“Any loss of data of this nature is deeply concerning, especially if there are security implications,” he said.

‘‘We will want to know the full picture from the Ministry of Defence as soon as possible to ensure that neither civilians nor military personnel are at risk.”

The Ministry of Defence initially insisted that no SAS equipment had been reported missing when contacted by the Sunday Mercury.

But after two days of making inquiries a spokesman admitted: “We can confirm that we are investigating the possible loss of a hard drive, containing only unclassified information which was being used on a training exercise.’’

The blunder is another potential security breach for the Government which is still dealing from the fallout from the Bob Quick affair.

The Met Assistant Commissioner, the country’s leading anti-terrorist police officer, was forced to resign earlier this week after being photographed carrying documents about a top-secret operation.

The pictures forced premature police raids to seize 12 suspects in North West England.

Terror experts said the hastily rescheduled operation put the cops who carried it out, and the public, at risk. Crucial evidence could also have been lost.

A source close to the SAS revealed the hard drive loss to the Sunday Mercury. “I was told they’re panicking,” he said.

‘‘They’d taken it out somewhere along with a pile of other equipment. It was assigned to a particular individual, who would have been assigned equipment in bulk.

‘‘He was responsible for keeping track of it. He would have then assigned equipment to individual SAS men.

“The Signals’ Regiment guys carry out communications work. Whenever the SAS go abroad, these guys go with them. They don’t do the same sort of physical stuff – they’re responsible for the communications’ work needed to ensure SAS jobs come off.

“They go through prolonged high-tech training and a hell of a lot of vetting to get accepted to the Hereford base. Most of those who get in never go back to the regular Army.

‘‘They’re not fools. They know the importance of keeping stuff safe because lives really can be at stake.”

The episode is only the latest information security breach to embarrass the Ministry of Defence.