Latest updates: Lord Ricketts says ‘you can’t rule out’ hostile states or criminal gangs also having PM’s number, which was available online
- Boris Johnson’s phone number should be more secure, says security expert
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In England people aged 40 and over are now being invited to book a coronavirus vaccination. As PA Media reports, text messages are being sent to 40 and 41-year-olds allowing them to arrange their vaccination appointments.
With people aged 42 to 44 having already been texted this week it means 2.5 million more people have been invited for their jab, NHS England said.
Good morning. One of the many aspects in which Boris Johnson is unusually casual about the conventional obligations imposed on prime ministers has been his determination to keep doing business via his mobile phone. Last week No 10 refused to deny reports that he had had ignored a suggestion from Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, that he should change the number. And last night it emerged that his number has been available online for years in a dusty corner of the internet.
Related: Boris Johnson’s phone number ‘listed online for last 15 years’
Yes it does matter, because access to the prime minister is a very valuable commodity and if this same mobile phone number has been used for 15 or 20 years, then hundreds if not thousands of people must have access to it, and that gives them privileged access to someone who is no longer the MP for Henley but the prime minister of the country.
Well, there could be, because if his mobile phone number has been that widely available you can’t rule out that others who you really don’t want to have his number, like hostile states with sophisticated cyber capabilities or criminal gangs, may have it as well. That’s the risk you run if you don’t take care of your digital security in the same way as your physical security when you’re prime minister.
Related: Coronavirus live news: emergency supplies from US arrive in India; all over-40s in England can book jabs
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