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Boris Johnson’s phone number ‘listed online for last 15 years’

Security expert Peter Ricketts says PM’s conversations could be hacked by criminal gangs
A UK national security adviser has said Boris Johnson should be much more digitally secure after reports that the prime minister’s mobile phone number has been available online for the past 15 years.
Peter Ricketts said Johnson’s phone conversations may well include “sensitive material” and “people trying to lobby them for favours, or tax advantages, or talks with foreign leaders”.
Asked if there could be security concerns, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that if the number had been widely available, it could not be ruled out that hostile states or criminal gangs could have access to it.
“I know that modern systems like WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted, nonetheless I think one would be worried if a hostile state, who had sophisticated capabilities, had the mobile phone number itself,” he said.
That must increase the risk that they are able to eavesdrop on some at least of the communications that are going on, and possibly other non-state actors as well, like sophisticated criminal gangs. So, there is no way of knowing whether that’s true, but there must at least be an increased risk if the number is widely available.
“And there, I think you do have to accept, just as you do – you can’t just walk around on your own and talk to anyone you like – equally you shouldn’t be in a position where anyone who once had your phone number can get to you when you are a prime minister,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
A contact number for Johnson was listed on the bottom of a press release when he was still shadow higher education minister in 2006 – a document that was still available online in 2021.
Reports this month suggested senior officials had advised Johnson to change his number because of concerns about how many people contacted him directly.
Downing Street declined to comment on the report, revealed on the Popbitch website, that Johnson’s phone number was available online to anyone who searched for it.
The press release, which related to his work as a shadow minister, invited journalists to contact Johnson directly on either a Commons office number or his mobile.
The Home Office minister said Johnson was aware of his responsibilities on national security. “The prime minister, more than anyone, knows his responsibilities when it comes to national security,” Victoria Atkins told Times Radio Breakfast.
“I’m slightly surprised that a national broadcaster felt it appropriate to advertise the fact that that mobile phone is on the internet if indeed it is.”
She added that she believed the public was not “particularly interested” in the issue.
Lord Ricketts said it was for Johnson’s interest that his number should be protected, and it was “one of the inconveniences of being a prime minister”.
Johnson’s use of his mobile phone has been in the spotlight after text message exchanges with the entrepreneur Sir James Dyson and Saudi crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were leaked.
Ricketts said: “So that there can be no suspicion of favours asked for and done or the kind of things that we are now seeing with the exchanges that we see with James Dyson. I think it’s for the prime minister’s own interest to be much more digitally secure than seems to be the case now.”
This month, No 10 refused to deny reports that Simon Case, the head of the civil service, suggested to the prime minister that he change numbers because his current one was too widely known.
Attempts to call the number on Thursday night were met with an automated message saying the phone was “switched off” and an invitation to “please try later or send a text”.
source: Sarah Marsh
Levant
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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