Alleged Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. and German government computers are part of an espionage strategy aimed not just at gaining intelligence but causing disruption and embarrassment, Western officials and experts say.
By Reuters
LONDON, Sept 5 - Alleged Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. and German government computers are part of an espionage strategy aimed not just at gaining intelligence but causing disruption and embarrassment, Western officials and experts say.
In the past 10 days, Beijing has hotly denied reports in Western media that Chinese hackers penetrated systems in the Pentagon and in the chancellery and key ministries of German leader Angela Merkel.
On Wednesday, Britain's Foreign Office declined to comment on a report in the Guardian newspaper that its network had also been hit, but a security source confirmed there had been frequent Chinese attempts to penetrate British government systems. "They're interested in scientific and technological information, both civil and military-related. They're interested in acquisition of political and economic intelligence. And they're interested in monitoring of dissident individuals and groups," the official told Reuters.
"Part of that is acquisition of information through cyber-attack."
While declining further specific comment on China, he said cyber-attacks in general had several possible aims besides gaining secret information. They can severely disrupt the target's networks and damage its reputation, especially in the case of a high-profile institution like the Pentagon.
"Hacking into the home of Fortress America is quite a reputational hit," the official said.
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