'Swedish spy threat at Cold War levels': report

The threat of espionage faced by Sweden from foreign security services remains widespread, according to a new report from Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service (MUST).

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There is significant interest in the Armed Forces' advanced weapons systems, the MUST report claims.

"Intelligence services are at the same level of awareness as during the Cold War. Several countries, include those in our immediate surroundings, conduct surveillance against Sweden. But there are greater threats to our overseas operations," John Daniels of MUST told the TT news agency.

Intelligence services have in recent years started to make use of the internet to collect information and staff need to be made aware that private activities may expose information, MUST writes in a press release on Thursday.

During 2007 there were two recorded incidents over serious breaches of security were foreign intelligence services could have obtained sensitive information.

Daniels explains that here have been problems with routines at defence headquarters and cites, for example, incidents of people discussing classified information on a mobile telephone.

In other incidents sensitive information has been published on blogs and on Facebook.

"We have had problems with things such as laptop computers and USB memory sticks," Daniels confirmed.

Employees have also misplaced classified papers at public places such as Stockholm city library.

"We are now conducting a substantial information campaign among our employees," Daniels said.

According to Daniels the nature of threats can change fast. It is particularly relevant in Afghanistan were the Swedish ISAF force is located, he says.

"During 2009 the number of attacks has increased dramatically. They are bigger and more organized."