Malicious hackers hacked Almost two million PCs globally, including machines inside UK and US government departments.
Security experts Finjan traced the giant network of remotely-controlled PCs, called a botnet, back to a gang of cyber criminals in Ukraine.
Several PCs inside six UK government bodies were compromised by the botnet.
Finjan has contacted the Metropolitan Police with details of the government PCs and it is now investigating.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, which is charged with setting standards for the use of information technology across government, said it would not comment on specific attacks "for security reasons".
Several PCs inside six UK government bodies were compromised by the botnet.
Finjan has contacted the Metropolitan Police with details of the government PCs and it is now investigating.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, which is charged with setting standards for the use of information technology across government, said it would not comment on specific attacks "for security reasons".
How does a botnet work?
It is the second time in a year that PCs inside government departments have been hacked to form part of a botnet.
On this occasion, the machines were infected with software which allowed them to be taken over and enslaved in the botnet due to vulnerabilities in web browsers.
It is the second time in a year that PCs inside government departments have been hacked to form part of a botnet.
On this occasion, the machines were infected with software which allowed them to be taken over and enslaved in the botnet due to vulnerabilities in web browsers.
