British Defense Ministry Dismisses Hacker Report.

Britain_s Defense Ministry Wednesday dismissed as "not true" a newspaper report that said hackers had seized control of one of its military communications satellites and issued blackmail threats.The Sunday Business newspaper had said the intruders altered the course of one of Britain_s four satellites used by defense planners and military forces around the world. "There is no basis to the story whatsoever," said a Defense Ministry spokesman. "It is not true." Security sources cited by the newspaper said the satellite_s course was changed just over two weeks ago. The hackers then issued a blackmail threat, demanding money to stop interfering with the satellite. A police spokesman said the story was for the Defense Ministry to investigate. "Military security is a matter for the Defense Ministry," he said.