Project Spaceman: early British computer security and automatic data processing

Much has been written about the prehistory of ‘cyber’ and computer security in United States, but we know less other countries. This essay seeks to examine early British efforts this field especially attacks by ‘Tiger Teams’ against ICL mainframe computers that were being deployed MI5 agencies. Over 2 years, a sophisticated programme was completed. It argues severe expertise shortage ensured degree convergence later outsourcing ICL. pioneering work also paved way for ‘Project Spaceman’ which offered government highly secure options together with encryption mid-1980s.