Parliamentary authorities are investigating after MPs were targeted by an attempt to hack into their email and phone contact lists on Monday, BuzzFeed News has learned.

In an email to MPs, deputy chief whip Christopher Pincher warned colleagues to ignore text messages and emails asking them to "provide overseas contact details" or to "download a secure message app".

Pincher told them: "This is a malicious hack that accesses your contacts list and sends texts and emails to all your private contacts." He said the Parliamentary Digital Service, which advises MPs on security, had been informed.