China Hacks Pentagon Computers
The Financial Times reported Monday that China’s military had hacked the computer system of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in June and that in general, China engages in the world’s most advanced cyber-terrorism. According to the report, the Pentagon was forced to shut down its system for more than a week in order to detect and expunge any trace of Chinese spy software. American officials are still investigating how much information was stolen. The Guardian claimed Wednesday that the Peeps Liberation Army had launched similar attacks to the British Parliament’s computer system as well. Even the Germans have complained that computers at the Chancellery were infected by Chinese Trojans. I’m not sure what kind of Trojan the Germans are talking about, because I’ve searched high and low for Chinese Trojans, and all I can find are these little Durex things. Of course China responded to the Financial Times’ report with the old, “Huh? What? Cybercrime? Us?” Very similar to the official reponse of, “Wait, pirated movies and software?, here? in China?” response. China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman called the claims “groundless” saying, “China has all along been opposed to and forbids criminal activities undermining computer networks, including hacking. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with other countries, including the U.S., in countering Internet crimes.” China’s government has often separated itself from such instances of cyber-terrorism and placed the blame on renegade hackers working alone. Which means one of two things. Either this isn’t true and the military has no knowledge of the attacks (doubtful). Or that Wen Wen down at the internet cafe is sitting there all day reading classified US Defense documents. In English no less. I guess when you get busted spying by three different countries, you probably don’t want to say it was you.
•FT: China Denies Hacking Into Pentagon