Posted by Avik Sarkar
On 12/13/2013 01:23:00 am
Researchers At FireEye Found -Chinese Hackers Snitching Europeans Before G20 Summit
Story of cyber espionage by Chinese hackers used
to remain one of most highest pick of breakneck. Yet again
another breathtaking issue of eavesdropping by Chinese hackers
get spot light, when California-based renounced computer
security firm FireEye Inc have figured out that a group of Chinese hackers eavesdropped on the computers of five European foreign ministries
before last September's G20 Summit, which was dominated by the Syrian crisis.
From the detailed analysis we came to know that the hackers
have infiltrated the ministries' computer networks by sending emails to
staff containing tainted files with titles such as
"US_military_options_in_Syria," which sells virus fighting technology
to companies. Whenever the targeted recipients opened those documents,
they loaded malicious code on to their personal computers. Researchers of
FireEye said that they were able to monitor the "inner workings"
of the main computer server used by the hackers to conduct their reconnaissance
and move across compromised systems for about a week in the late August. But
suddenly they lost access to the hackers after they moved to another server
shortly before the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Though the company has
declined in open press to identify the nations whose ministries were hacked,
although it said they were all members of the European Union. But FireEye
informed the FBI about the whole issue in details. FireEye also confirmed
that the hackers where from China, but they did not find evidence which may
link those hackers to the Chinese government. Not surprisingly and obviously
like earlier the Chinese government has distanced itself from any claim that it
might have hacked foreign governments for data. FireEye also successfully
monitor several dozen hacking groups operating in China, most of which they
suspect of having ties to the government. The firms also suspect the hacking
groups of stealing intellectual property for commercial gain.
The researchers had
been following the hackers behind the Syria-related attack for several years,
but this is the first time the group's activities have been publicly
documented. The company calls the group "Ke3chang," after the name of
one of the files it uses in one of its pieces of malicious software. "The
theme of the attacks was U.S. military intervention in Syria," said
FireEye researcher Nart Villeneuv.
On
reaction Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said- "U.S.
internet companies are keen on hyping up the so-called hacker threat from
China, but they never obtain irrefutable proof, and what so-called evidence
they do get is widely doubted by experts. This is neither professional nor
responsible,"
While
talking in this story of Chinese eavesdropping, I also want to dig some
points from decent parts where we all became very habituated of seeing Europe
& U.S. countries blaming China for engaging cyber attacks; and China also
do the same for accusing U.S. like vice versa. I am reviving your memories
of last few years where If you look at the
story of major cyber attacks of this year we will find that the name of China
has been involved several times for engaging cyber attacks
against several high profile websites and organization of U.S.
including New
York Times, Twitter, NBC and
so on. And if you refresh our memory then then we will find
the scenario of big cyber attack and espionage by Chinese
hackers have been spotted
several times. In 2012 Chinese hackers had breached Telvent's corporate network &
gained control of US
Power Grid. Also in the middle of last year, we have seen that Chinese
hackers have broken into Indian Navy's Computer System & stolen
sensitive data. Few months before this hack, Tokyo based
computer security firm Trend Micro confirmed that Chinese hackers were responsible
for biggest cyber-espionage in India, Japan & Tibet.
Also the director of National
Security Agency (NSA) General Keith Alexander confirmed that
hackers from China was responsible for the serious attack on one of the leading
IT security & cyber security company RSA. Also
in 2011 China was responsible behind the attack on US Chamber of Commerce, Satellite System of U.S, Nortel Network & so on. But few days
ago National Computer Network Emergency Response Coordination Center of China
(CNCERT/CC), China's primary computer security monitoring network claimed that
China fallen victim of one of biggest cyber attacks originated from US, Japan
& South Korea. We must have to say that this statement is truly irrelevant. Cyber crime investigator
have found that China was directly responsible for the hack into Japan's Biggest Defense Contractor Mitsubishi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) & Parliament of Japan. In case of South Korea
more than 13 Million of MapleStory players data has been
stolen, there also hackers from China was responsible.
Before I conclude, I request you to closely look at the above mentioned stories, you will find China majorly responsible for eavesdropping & security breach. On the same side China also been effected by the same way. So in conclusion, we cant put a full stop in this chain of cyber attacks, hacking & eavesdropping, as it comes from both end. So this exciting episode will be continued like it does. If you want to stay updated then don't forget to stay tuned with VOGH.
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Posted by Avik Sarkar
On 12/20/2013 12:55:00 am
The Washington Post Server Hacked! Suspected That Chinese Hackers Are Behind This Cyber Attack
Last week the story of Chinese eavesdropping on European ministries and diplomats at G20 summit draws the attention of the entire cyber world and made headlines. Yet again another breathtaking issue came in-front where also China found responsible for security breach that effected The Washington Post - the most widely circulated newspaper published in Washington, D.C. Sources reveled that hackers broke into The Washington Post’s servers and gained access to employee user names and passwords. Mandiant, a cyber security contractor that monitors The Washington Post’s networks, said the intrusion was of relatively short duration. The extent of the loss of company data was not immediately clear, still the matter of relief is that the company passwords are stored in encrypted form, hackers in some cases have shown the ability to decode such information. although to avoid any further mishap Washington Post have planned to ask all employees to change their user names and passwords on the assumption that many or all of them may have been compromised. Officials at Washington Post said that they saw no evidence that subscriber information, such as credit cards or home addresses, was accessed by the hackers. Nor was there any sign that the hackers had gained access to The Post’s publishing system, e-mails or sensitive personal information of employees, such as their Social Security numbers. Post officials found that this hack is more-recent than the 2011 one. They also said, began with an intrusion into a server used by The Post’s foreign staff but eventually spread to other company servers before being discovered. “This is an ongoing investigation, but we believe it was a few days at most,” said Post spokeswoman Kris Coratti.
China not only targeted Washington Post, If you look at the story of major cyber attacks of this year we will find that the name of China has been involved several times for engaging cyber attacks against several high profile news organization of U.S. including New York Times, NBC and so on. So far Chinese Government have not responded to this issue, also none of Chinese hacker community take the responsibility of this breach. For upcoming updates on this story stay tuned with VOGH.
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