It looks as if Galileo, the EU satellite project, will go forward. This means that there will be competition to the American GPS services, and an alternative to location and timing signals. It’s an expensive back-up, but it’s important to have a back-up.

MI5 has issued a warning to a host of companies and organisations that they are being hacked–quite possibly by the Chinese. As we reported this summer when it was Whitehall and the MoD getting hacked, it’s important to remember that the Red Army, blamed for so much of this, has a lot of private enterprise initiatives out there, and this may not be seeking military advantage (although they wouldn’t throw that away if it came to hand) but seeking straightforward competitive advantage over UK companies doing (or hoping to do) business in China.

Here’s how it’s painted on the CPNI website. “The UK is a high priority espionage target and a number of countries are actively seeking UK information and material to advance their own military, technological, political and economic interests.”

And look at it this way–UK information protection schemes obviously need the exercise. Better be tested and found wanting in a time of peace. In a weird way, maybe we should thank the Chinese for this–if we act on the lessons learned…