Speaking at Google’s Zeitgeist Conference in Hertfordshire, Mr Osborne said that in one instance a legitimate email relating to the G20, sent to a number of countries, had been followed up minutes later with an almost identical, hostile replica. Although Government systems identified the threat and it was not allowed to do any harm, he added that the Treasury alone faces an average of more than one attack per day. “During 2010, hostile intelligence agencies made hundreds of serious and pre-planned attempts to break into the Treasury’s computer system. This makes the Treasury one of the most targeted departments across Whitehall,” said Mr Osborne.