Information security

Putin urges stronger protection of Russian military secrets

President Vladimir Putin urged Russia's top domestic security agency on Wednesday to tighten its protection of information related to new weapons and other sensitive data.

In a speech to top officials of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, the main KGB successor agency, Putin said foreign spies have intensified their efforts to get access to Russia's secrets.

"They are looking for access to political, economic, scientific and technological information," said the KGB veteran who headed the FSB in the 1990s before ascending to the presidency. "That means that your work should become even more effective."

The Russian leader noted that the FSB last year exposed 129 foreign intelligence officers and 465 of their agents.

He said the FSB should pay particular attention to protecting information related to the development, testing and production of new Russian weapons.