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US Chamber of Commerce Infiltrated By Chinese Hackers

Posted by Unknown on from the security-through-insecurity dept.

SpzToid writes "The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that a group of hackers in China breached the computer defenses of the United States Chamber of Commerce. The intrusion was quietly shut down in May 2010, while FBI investigations continue. 'A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Geng Shuang, said cyberattacks are prohibited by Chinese law and China itself is a victim of attacks. ... Still, the Chamber continues to see suspicious activity, they say. A thermostat at a town house the Chamber owns on Capitol Hill at one point was communicating with an Internet address in China, they say, and, in March, a printer used by Chamber executives spontaneously started printing pages with Chinese characters.'" According the article, the group "gained access to everything stored on its systems" and may have "had access to the network for more than a year before the breach was uncovered."

6 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Re:errr by Artea · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Somehow I suspect these "Chinese characters" were just random ASCII characters you tend to see when a client with a corrupt printer driver tries to print. When some security official comes around asking about anything suspicious, John Executive takes to opportunity to jump up and do his part for national security!

  2. Thank you China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do you think China will be willing to shut down the rest of our lobbies for us too? Then we maybe able to accomplish something in government.

  3. Don't be confused by minderaser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The US Chamber of Commerce is a LOBBYING organization (y'know, some of the folks behind SOPA and other crap) and is NOT the US Department of Commerce, the cabinet department that (supposedly) promotes economic growth.

    I'm having trouble feeling bad or worried about this.

  4. The Obvious by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A thermostat at a town house the Chamber owns on Capitol Hill at one point was communicating with an Internet address in China

    What the fuck is a thermostat doing being accessible from the internet?

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
  5. Re:Idiots. by whargoul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're sound like the type that would blame the homeowner for keeping their doors unlocked instead of the intruder for going in without permission.

  6. Re:Idiots. by VortexCortex · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As such a home owner, I would blame myself for leaving the door unlocked.
    However, I would blame the intruder for getting shot, or mauled by my two pit bull terriers.