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US Indicts Chinese Hacker-Spies In Conspiracy To Steal Aerospace Secrets (gizmodo.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: The U.S. Justice Department has charged two Chinese intelligence officers, six hackers, and two aerospace company insiders in a sweeping conspiracy to steal confidential aerospace technology from U.S. and French companies. For more than five years, two Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) spies are said to have run a team of hackers focusing on the theft of designs for a turbofan engine used in U.S. and European commercial airliners, according to an unsealed indictment dated October 25. In a statement, the DOJ said a Chinese state-owned aerospace company was simultaneously working to develop a comparable engine.

The MSS officers involved were identified as Zha Rong, a division director in the Jiangsu Province regional department (JSSD), and Chai Meng, a JSSD section chief. At the direction of the MSS officers, the hackers allegedly infiltrated a number of U.S.-based aerospace companies, including California-based Capstone Turbine, among others in Arizona, Massachusetts, and Oregon, the DOJ said. The officers are also said to have recruited at least two Chinese employees of a French aerospace manufacturer -- insiders who allegedly aided the conspiracy by, among other acts, installing Sakula, a remote access trojan, onto company computers.

34 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Re:FBI should investigate Khashoggi killing by Bobrick · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You're forgetting the FBI has zero jurisdiction over a Saudi national being murdered in Turkey. What the fuck are you smoking, bot?

  2. Re:FBI should investigate Khashoggi killing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Woah, check your islamophobia, bigot. Dismembering dissident journalists with a bone saw is part of rich Saudi culture. Stop trying to impose your judeo-christian white male values on other cultures.

  3. Which one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Is this the chinese spy that worked for pelosi for two decades?

    No? Still going to keep ignoring that one? Oh alright then.

  4. anybody surprised? by WindBourne · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Of course, China will continue spying on the west. They are in a cold war with the west.

    The real problem here, is that the west has dropped our guard and continues to allow Chinese (and russian) spies in.
    It is time to stop this insanity. We need to move security clearances back to the FBI.
    Oddly, Trump is headed down the right road on this.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:anybody surprised? by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Re "move security clearances back to the FBI"
      But the companies that make mil/gov products need to have more diversity and have to reflect the demographics of the surrounding city and state.
      Think of what barriers to advancement by the local community new security clearances put up.
      Need to be educated.
      Not on drugs with a lifestyle that always needs funds to get more drugs.
      No lifestyle with compromising information.
      No gambling problems and open to offers of money.
      No criminals.
      Not spies for other nations. Not a spy for their faith/cult.
      No split loyalty to another nation.
      Not living in a tent city, RV due to poverty.
      Someone who actually is a real US citizen.
      Not an illegal migrant with fake/created state ID documents.
      A person with dreams that another nation could make happen in return for some long term spying.
      No political history of activism ie protester who will give information to other nations for party political reasons.

      Once all that is sorted only a very few will be able to get the really great new jobs.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re:anybody surprised? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      The west was too busy spying on itself to worry too much about external threats. After all, if they helped us secure our systems they would just be breaking their own ability to hack them! Better to keep those vulnerabilities for their own use than to get them fixed.

      Improving security to prevent spying is better than trying to arrest and convict the spies. Aside from anything else, there will likely be retaliation against US citizens in China who are accused of spying, and further restrictions on US companies trying to do business there in the name of "national security". Just quietly finding the spies and sabotaging them, e.g. with fake data, is much more effective and less costly.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:anybody surprised? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Funny, the Washington Post reported that ~5 million Americans hold security clearances. Were you unable to cut it?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    4. Re:anybody surprised? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      With trade imbalanced so heavily, China needs us much more than we need them. They won't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    5. Re:anybody surprised? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Careful, they said that about the UK and the EU too, and look how that is working out.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:anybody surprised? by Gryle · · Score: 1

      That's about 1.5% of the total US population. What point are you trying to make here?

      --
      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
    7. Re:anybody surprised? by Lost+Race · · Score: 1

      With trade imbalanced so heavily, China needs us much more than we need them.

      What? How does that work? China has all the manufacturing, a billion consumers, and a huge cash surplus. What do they need the USA for?

    8. Re:anybody surprised? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      The percentage of the population is irrelevant. 5 million people is far from "a very few" that the GP stated.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    9. Re:anybody surprised? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Why do they need us? Ask yourself why do they need the $505B we sent to them in 2017. You think they don't care if the US funds were to dry up?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  5. Re:FBI should investigate Khashoggi killing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You're forgetting the FBI has zero jurisdiction over a Saudi national being murdered in Turkey.

    If you're speaking as a matter of law then no. However, the United States is a powerful nation with the ability to inflict great economic harms upon those nations which displease her. In fact the economic power of the United States is so overwhelming that her vast military powers rarely need to be demonstrated. Like the French Marshals of Napoleon or the Roman Legates of centuries past, merely displaying the baton is enough to command obedience and respect. On top of that, just about every nation on this planet, including Turkey, receives trading privileges with access to the US markets along with rather generous allowances of foreign aid, cheap loans, military and diplomatic assistance. In that regard the United States can also be a powerful and useful friend. Most nations have decided that it's better to be our friend or at least not openly our enemy and when you think about the geopolitical situation along those lines I think you will agree that the opinion of the United States in these matters caries great influence, both with the Turks and the Saudis. Either one or both them will almost certainly be willing to make substantial concessions when they are asked for by the American President, especially when done in ways that save face because after all, nobody likes public humiliation. I believe that the situation will be resolved in due course in a way that maintains the status quo and allows both sides a face saving climb down from these fruitless and ultimately pointless escalations. A couple of years from now, few outside the diplomatic community will even remember what happened.

  6. Escalation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When hacker or spy just doesn't grab the attention of the public anymore, hacker-spy!

  7. There's not investigating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Wake me up when they subpoena Jared's WhatsApp Saudi communications. Or Trumps business records connecting him to Prince Bone Saw. Or the 15 days of too-ing and fro-ing that resulted in the "died in fist fight" bullshit and Trumps "I believe them" unsustainable bullshit.

    This needs a special prosecutor.

    They should have enforced the emoluments clause from the start, should have prevented the non-governmental back channels via Jared. If the story of Jared's Saudi visit is true, then that's a major crime and should be investigated. It's not enough to block Jared from having security clearance, if he's already abused the temporary security clearance he had.

    And then there's the $1.6 million dollar payoff for the abortion by Broidy. A well known middle east funding conduit. Man that is suspicious as f**k. Paid via Cohen, Trump's lawyer, with Keith M. Davidson involvement in all three (as fake lawyer to the two known Trump payoffs), same monikers, same timing, everything. That whole Broidy thing needs a special prosecutor too.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payout.html

    "During the wide-ranging October meeting, Mr. Broidy raised numerous topics high on the agenda of the United Arab Emirates, a country that has given his security company a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He pitched the president on a paramilitary force his company was developing for the U.A.E. and urged Mr. Trump to fire Rex W. Tillerson, then the secretary of state, who the U.A.E. believed was insufficiently tough on its rival Qatar."

    "The documents show that Mr. Broidy has worked closely with George Nader, an adviser to the U.A.E. and a witness in the special counsel’s investigation, to help steer Trump administration policy on numerous issues in the Middle East. Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, is examining Mr. Nader’s possible role in funneling Emirati money to finance Mr. Trump’s political efforts. There is no indication that Mr. Mueller’s team is looking into Mr. Broidy."

    "In 2009, Mr. Broidy pleaded guilty to charges that he made nearly $1 million worth of illegal gifts to New York State officials in order to win an investment of $250 million from the state’s public pension fund. Among the gifts were trips to Israel and Italy, payouts to officials’ relatives and girlfriends and an investment in one relative’s production of a low-budget movie called “Chooch.”"

  8. Re:Losing team. by Bobrick · · Score: 1

    You're assuming your perception of China is in any way relevant to China. That's pretty absurd.

  9. Internal Affairs by mentil · · Score: 1

    At these kind of companies, I'm surprised they don't contract to a company that hires Chinese and other nationalities to approach their client's employees and try to turn them into agents. Better that you find out who on your team's corruptible, than the competition finding out first.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    1. Re:Internal Affairs by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Companies like Amazon, Walmart, GM, Pioneer Seeds(du pont) and so on use 3rd party companies that hire or transfer a new person where thefts/IP-theft are happening, and the plant picks away until they're part of the ring itself. Then come either litigation and/or firings and/or both. You just don't hear about it much, outside of the "so-and-so worker/manager/upper-manager/production assistant/etc was escorted out of the building" with no reasons given and even the gossip queens have no idea why.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
  10. must not have worked by slashmydots · · Score: 1

    Well, apparently it didn't work because their rocket just blew up last week.

  11. Perspective by johnsie · · Score: 1

    US companies like Google, Facebook etc are constantly mining data and spying on people. But if the Chinese move a muscle then BOOM! Massive outcry.

    1. Re:Perspective by Gryle · · Score: 1

      Google and Facebook are out to make money. The Chinese are out to be a superpower. I like my chances better with the US than with China.

      --
      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
  12. New meaning by Wizardess · · Score: 1

    Gives a new meaning to the old slur, "Chinese copy," doesn't it.
    {^_-}

  13. Re: You are right! Americans should NOT be surpris by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    This is a game of chess. "Stealing" is a move we wish to prevent "the other guy" from making. How it makes you feel... (one way or the other) probably isn't relevant.

  14. Re: You are right! Americans should NOT be surpri by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    ....ain't nationalism just grand, though?! ;)

  15. Re: Losing team. by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Maybe you're not that informed but "face" (an excellent synonym for "perception") is managed very carefully in China, particularly when the outside world is involved.

  16. Re:FBI should investigate Khashoggi killing by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    First of all, your original post is spoken like someone planting fake issues against the US. Maybe you're a Chinese government troll working to divert attention from the main issue presented.

    Next, the issue you raise isn't an American issue at all with the minor exception of the fact that Khashoggi worked for the Washington Post. Sure the Saudis are scum for doing this, and you're blaming Trump for that? As if the previous administration wasn't in bed with them too? Get a grip.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  17. Remember the British jet engines... by Ancient_Hacker · · Score: 1

    The Chinese don't really need to grab anything, they own many Airbus and Boeing planes with those engines.

    Back in the 1960's they bought a few British passenger planes and made literally Chinese copies of the engines just fine.

  18. Re: I AM Surprised by zilym · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't write them off so flippantly. China has been making huge strides on quality, precision, etc. I remember buying Made in China stuff when I was a kid and being subsequently hugely disappointed in the results pretty much every time. Nowadays, things I buy from China on eBay very often exceed my expectations.

    In a way, I'm kind of rooting for the Chinese to grab all the trade secrets they can so that they can produce higher quality stuff at amazingly low prices. The USA is so broken with backhanded gov't regulations, insane corporate management, bizarre public education, and other societal ills, etc that we may never be able to drive the prices down like they can.

    Of course, the danger is that they will grab all those secrets and then close the door on trading with us, preventing us from benefitting from their economic efficiencies while they enjoy all the improvements our trade secrets provided.

  19. Re: I AM Surprised by The+Snazster · · Score: 1

    Making a modern jet engine requires a body of knowledge that takes decades to build up. The organizations that make them have pretty much all been working on them since the middle of the last century.

    Being able to make rocket engines has little or nothing to do with it, by the way.

    The age of computer hacking has made it possible for China is attempt to jump the line and steal what they don't want to spend the time and money on to develop for themselves. Then, of course, they will do their level best to undercut and put out of business the very companies they stole it from.

  20. Re: Losing team. by Bobrick · · Score: 1

    That obviously isn't stopping them from engaging in constant, blatant IP theft, state-sponsored industrial espionage and sabotage, not to mention an horrific human rights record. Right in the "face" of the entire world, face it.

  21. Re:Losing team. by cavreader · · Score: 1

    It is very relevant to China. Every time they get caught it provides the ammunition the government needs to ban Chinese products entering the US market. It can also lead to sanctions and prohibitions on other technologies that contain Chinese components in the products supply chain. Just ask Kaspersky Labs what happens when the US government decides to declare a company is a national security risk just because they are closely associated with a government hostile to the US.

  22. Re: I AM Surprised by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    I remember buying Made in China stuff when I was a kid and being subsequently hugely disappointed in the results pretty much every time. Nowadays, things I buy from China on eBay very often exceed my expectations.

    In the 60's "Made in Japan" was a certificate of junkiness. That turned around in the 70's, and by the 80's Japan was starting to eat Detroit. In the 90's we were so like "Turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese at least I think so".

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  23. Every Chinese immigrant is a potential spy by sproketboy · · Score: 1

    How it works:

    When you want to come to the west the Chinese Government will remind you that you still have family in China. If your working somewhere where they might want some information they simply will ask you to get it.

    Simple.