Group issues security warnings to Scottish government Web site

The Scottish Executive has been forced to upgrade its Web site security after a computer group warned it was vulnerable to hackers.

The group, DNScon, outlined the risks in an email to the Executive - including the potential to post false press releases or plant incorrect budget information at http://www.scotland.gov.uk .

According to the Executive, it has now informed its hosting company of the potential problems and is satisfied that additional counter measures have been taken to increase the security of the site.

DNScon also warned the Royal Mail (RM) that its site at http://www.royalmail.co.uk provided potential inroads for hackers to alter content. It claimed the site's ecommerce commemorative stamp issue ordering pages provided hackers with the opportunity to change order details including credit card numbers.

According to the group, RM applied some security patches to its site the same day as the warning was sent, and the system was shutdown for upgrade a few days later.