UK and allies accuse Chinese state-backed group of Microsoft hack

British foreign secretary says Beijing will be held to account if it does not stop systematic cyber sabotage'

Britain has joined with the US and other allies in formally accusing Chinese state-based hacking groups of being behind the exploitation of an estimated 250,000 Microsoft Exchange servers worldwide earlier this year.

The UK foreign secretary said the cyber-attack amounted to a reckless but familiar pattern of behaviour", in an announcement released on Monday.