LONDON \u2014 British lawmakers are flouting explicit instructions to lock their computers and not to share their passwords, documents obtained by The Associated Press show, a revelation that raises questions about the security of Britain\u2019s parliamentary network only months after a well-publicized email break-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conservative Member of Parliament Nadine Dorries first drew attention to the practice on Saturday when she said in a message posted to Twitter that her staff and even interns had access to her log-in details. Dorries defended herself by suggesting that the practice was widespread and that colleagues had no choice but to outsource email management to employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll staff send emails in our name,\u201d she said, a statement echoed by fellow Tory lawmakers Will Quince, who said he left his office computer unlocked, and Nick Boles, who revealed that he often forgot his own password \u201cand have to ask my staff what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Documents recently obtained through a British public records request show that lawmakers are explicitly warned by parliament\u2019s information technology division to keep their computers locked and not to tell anyone their passwords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMake sure that you never share them,\u201d reads a slideshow shown to incoming lawmakers, with the words \u201cnever share\u201d in bold. Another document \u2014 a digital services guide addressed to members of the House of Commons \u2014 warns that lawmakers have been targeted by hackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNever share your password or write it down where others could find it\u201d is among the \u201cminimum\u201d practices the guide advises them to follow. It goes on to suggest that there is no need for lawmakers to share their passwords with employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can arrange for your staff to access your mailbox, calendar and documents through their own accounts,\u201d the guide states. It also reminds lawmakers to keep their computers locked and that: \u201cCybersecurity is everyone\u2019s responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The House of Commons press office, which handles inquiries for the lower house of Parliament, confirmed that the ban on password-sharing applied to lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will generally aim to engage constructively with people found to have been breaching policy inadvertently,\u201d the press office said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An email sent to Dorries\u2019 office wasn\u2019t immediately answered. In a Twitter message posted Sunday, Dorries seemed to shrug off the concern over digital safety, suggesting there weren\u2019t any government documents on her machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn my computer, there is a shared email account,\u201d she said . \u201cThat\u2019s it. Nothing else. Sorry to disappoint!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
British security researcher Kevin Beaumont said lawmakers routinely handled sensitive messages from their constituents and that by flouting IT staff\u2019s instructions \u201cthey are failing to provide any protection to those people, their voters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMembers also sit on the internal Parliamentary network,\u201d Beaumont said in an email. \u201cThey might not think their PCs can access sensitive information, but rogue actors would absolutely test this theory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The digital security of Britain\u2019s Parliament was thrust into the spotlight in June following an aggressive attempt to break into lawmakers\u2019 emails. The hack, which was closely covered in the United Kingdom, came about a year after the dramatic leak of Democratic Party operatives\u2019 emails in the heat of the U.S. presidential contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those leaks were blamed by some for derailing the candidacy of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and their fallout has overshadowed the presidency of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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