Thousands of missing government devices, including laptops, phones, and tablets, have disappeared over the past year, costing taxpayers £1.3m annually. Freedom of Information (FoI) disclosures reveal alarming losses across 18 departments, sparking warnings of a “systemic risk” to national cybersecurity.
The Department for Work and Pensions reported 240 lost laptops and 125 missing phones in 2024. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) logged 103 laptops and 387 phones lost in just the first five months of 2025. The Cabinet Office, responsible for coordinating government operations, lost 66 laptops and 124 phones last year.
Other affected departments include HM Treasury, the Home Office, and the Bank of England. Experts warn that even encrypted devices pose risks if accessed while unlocked.
Professor Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity specialist at the University of Surrey, called the figures “surprisingly large.” He explained, “If just 1% of missing government devices belonged to system administrators, hackers could exploit them to infiltrate networks.”
Nick Jackson of Bitdefender added, “It only takes one compromised device to breach an entire system. The access these devices have makes this a systemic risk.”
Officials insist encryption protects sensitive data. A government spokesperson said, “All devices are encrypted, so losses don’t compromise security.” The MoD echoed this, stating its policies prevent unauthorized access.
However, David Gee of Cellebrite, a digital forensics firm, countered, “These missing government devices hold vast amounts of sensitive data. Their loss is a huge national security risk.”
While departments investigate each incident, critics argue more proactive measures are needed. The Home Office, which lost 147 devices last year, has yet to announce stricter protocols. As losses mount, questions remain.
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