#2016 chinese espionage series#

Related story: China denounces US hacking chargesĬountries like China are turning “to proxies (to) do their bidding in order to provide plausible deniability,” said Frank J. The bad guys want you to open the email, click on an attachment and boom - your computer is now working for the spies. Spear phishing is harmful email disguised to look like it’s from a familiar business or someone you know. “We had no idea we could be used as an infiltration unit for Chinese attacks.”ĬBS News reported on how China-based spies use malware and spear phishing to allow hackers to watch you at your desk without your knowledge. “We were totally freaked out,” co-owner Lori Cate told The Times. A June New York Times report described how Chinese hackers took over a “dusty old computer” at a small welding company in Belleville, Wisconsin, to stage global assaults. Sometimes cyber-spy targets might surprise you.

#2016 chinese espionage series#

The investigation is detailed in CNN’s Original Series “Declassified.” In 2004, an FBI probe nabbed an American engineer named Chi Mak who was convicted of trying to send digital information about secret US Navy technology to the Chinese government. Related story: Chinese cyber spying decreasing, report says “Russia and China are growing more assertive and sophisticated in their cyber operations,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters last July.Ĭhina’s cyber tactics may be getting “more assertive,” but the number of China-based hacking instances against the US government and American companies has declined in the past two years, according to US cyber security firm FireEye.ĭespite all the fingers pointed in its direction, Beijing has long denied any responsibility for hacks and attacks - instead blaming internal “criminals” and rogues.

Related story: US, China swear off cyber theft Even more worrisome, stolen American military secrets could put US servicemen and women at risk during combat. “Cyber operations from China are still targeting and exploiting US government, defense industry, academic and private computer networks,” Rogers said last April during testimony before a US Senate committee.Ĭyber theft of US trade secrets can easily ruin American businesses and result in higher prices for consumers. About a year ago, China and the United States formally agreed not to conduct or knowingly support the cyber theft of each other’s intellectual property.