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Chinese Hacking of American Military Networks On the Rise

Posted by Soulskill on from the secure-the-international-tubes dept.

Anti-Globalism writes with this excerpt from the Guardian: "China is stealing sensitive information from American computer networks and stepping up its online espionage, according to a US congressional panel. Beijing's investment in rocket technology is also accelerating the militarization of outer space and lifting it into the 'commanding heights' of modern warfare, the advisory group claims. ... A summary of the study, released in advance, alleges that networks and databases used by the US government and American defense contractors are regularly targeted by Chinese hackers. 'China is stealing vast amounts of sensitive information from US computer networks,' says Larry Wortzel, chairman of the commission set up by Congress in 2000 to investigate US-China issues." The full study addresses these issues and others relating to the US-China relationship (PDF).

14 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Obligitory... by religious+freak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But how much is the USA ramping up their attacks on China?

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  2. WTF? by Ritz_Just_Ritz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perhaps I'm just too simple minded, but WHY ON EARTH is ANY of that information even accessible from the interwebz?

    1. Re:WTF? by aliquis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My first though to, why is it even accessible if they think it's such a problem? Guess at least the military should know such basic things. (Though I do understand it makes their sharing easier.)

  3. Why would they bother? by Colin+Smith · · Score: 5, Insightful

    America is sending all of it's wealth to China anyway and is happily enslaving future generations to chinese investors.

    "Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." Sun Tsu. 2500 years ago so.
     

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  4. It's not one way by Caedes.Leighton · · Score: 5, Insightful

    US hacks China, China hacks US, where is the news in that? It's like watching two kids fight and both of them saying "He started it!" when in fact, they're both annoying little bastards.

  5. Get real. by Colin+Smith · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is propaganda. It's simply preparing the public for adding China to the Axis of Evil, erecting trade barriers etc.

     

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    1. Re:Get real. by moderatorrater · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'd agree with you if this were a few decades ago, but right now we're too dependent on China's production and cheap labor.

    2. Re:Get real. by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Bang on correct! When do people, especially government types admit that they have a problem and are hemorrhaging data to foreign states? Only when there is an advantage to doing so. In this case, I think you are right, it's part of a ramp up on public information to demonize the Chinese. Specifically who among the Chinese is yet to be determined, but the probably have a short list of targets.

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  6. Time to do what we did to the USSR by istartedi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    One of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever came as a result of US technology that was stolen by the Russians. Except, the CIA knew it was happening and instead of stopping it they decided to plant faulty chip designs. Once the USSR knew the tech was unreliable, they were stuck with one helluva an auditing problem, beyond their capability.

    How much do you want to bet that somewhere on a "vulnerable" network, there are some designs that are just... a little... bit... off.

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  7. Well, you just saw the first propaganda salvos by Colin+Smith · · Score: 4, Informative

    They'll escalate it from there.

    From TFA:

    "says Larry Wortzel, chairman of the commission"

    Larry Wortzel was:
    http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/larrywortzel.cfm

    who are:
    http://www.heritage.org/about/

    "Our Mission
    Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."

    Yah got to have a bogeyman.

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    1. Re:Well, you just saw the first propaganda salvos by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In the democratic theater that is modern western politics, the two governments that the population choose between (Republican/Democrat in the USA, Liberal/Labour in Australia, Conservative/Labour in the UK) need to be effectively identical in order that the real decisions get made not by the people, but by the neo-nobility.

      There's no difference between modern western politics and autocratic regimes such as monarchy or even dictatorships. It's just that the ruling class hides behind the veil democratic system, and like the Wizard of Oz, pulls the string without the vastly dumbed down population being any the wiser.

      They are kept in this subjugated state with a combination of bread and circuses to keep them politically passive as well as carefully constructed media content that portrays a monoculture as though it's freedom.

      This is actually an on-topic point, that meandered for a bit. The point I'm trying to make is that only a fool would believe that the US does not have a cyber-warfare (ugh, idiotic term) program, and all this reporting on online attacks by the Chinese is an example of the media reporting bias.

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  8. Boo! by ISoldat53 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Every age needs bogey man.

  9. zeros by cpankonien · · Score: 4, Informative

    the DoD network will continue to be vulnerable as long as they insist on using windows. lest you think i'm a peacenik or something, i was a boom operator in the USAF for 20 years. i retired in 1997, and joined the local LUG. Alot of the members were NCO sysadmins from the base, who related that "all the officers coming out of the zoo (USAF Academy) only knew windows, and policy did not allow for anything else". So, being good NCOs, they snuck linux in the back door and had it running all over the place, as proxy servers, firewalls, etc. their officers didn't know about it, but as long as nobody complained and it made them look good, they were happy. then when they found out, and had it removed. problems increased dramatically soon thereafter. fuckin' zeros...they don't listen! MSgt, USAF (Ret.)

  10. I wonder if it is personal? by victim · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The DoD takes everything personally, and for good reason, but I have a steady stream of chinese hackers attempting to break into the router in my tool shed that reports battery voltage and temperature at a cabin that is inaccessible for 6 months of the year.

    I really should put a webcam in there so they can see what they have achieved if they ever do manage to get in.

    (22.1F, batteries 25.3V, 600 watt hours of energy stored today.)