The Chinese Hack that Stole 22m People’s Data | Cyberwar
VICE News・19 minutes read
China aggressively hacks American companies to steal trade secrets and intellectual property, impacting billions of dollars annually and compromising sensitive information like social security numbers. The Chinese government's cyber espionage, military involvement, and economic motivation to surpass the US raise significant concerns about the future implications for Corporate America.
Insights
- Chinese hackers, acting under Beijing's direction, engage in cyber espionage against American corporations to steal trade secrets and sensitive personal data, potentially impacting national security and economic competitiveness.
- The US government's indictment of PLA officers for cyber breaches highlights the significant threat posed by state-sponsored hacking, underscoring the escalating tensions between China and the US in the realm of cybersecurity and economic dominance.
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Recent questions
How are Chinese hackers impacting American corporations?
Chinese hackers breach American companies for economic advantage, often under Beijing's orders. They target various industries to steal trade secrets and intellectual property, with some operations linked to the Chinese military. This cyber espionage has led to billions of dollars in US trade secrets being stolen annually, posing a significant threat to American businesses.
What was the significance of Operation Aurora?
Operation Aurora exposed Chinese hacking of American companies, with Google being the first to publicly accuse China. This operation revealed Chinese military involvement in cyber espionage, with hackers linked to the People's Liberation Army. It marked a turning point in the awareness of state-sponsored cyber attacks against US commercial targets.
How did the OPM data breach impact the US?
The OPM data breach in 2015 affected 22 million American civil servants, exposing sensitive personal information like social security numbers and employment history. The breach could have lasting consequences, potentially targeting US government employees and contractors for years to come. It highlighted the vulnerability of government systems to cyber attacks.
What actions did the US government take against Chinese hackers?
The US government indicted five PLA officers for cyber breaches against American companies, marking the first charges against state actors for infiltrating US commercial targets. This legal action demonstrated a response to Chinese cyber espionage and aimed to hold accountable those responsible for stealing American trade secrets.
How did a company's valuation change due to Chinese hacking?
A company's stock dropped from $25 to $12.50 in a day, causing a valuation decrease from $1.6 billion to $800 million after being targeted by the People's Liberation Army for hacking operations. The fallout from the hacking incident led to significant financial losses, highlighting the real-world impact of cyber attacks on businesses.
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Summary
00:00
China's Economic Espionage: A Global Threat
- Two powers compete globally for market dominance, with China breaking rules to become an economic superpower.
- Chinese hackers breach American corporations under Beijing's orders, often as military operations.
- Billions of dollars in US trade secrets are stolen annually by Chinese hackers.
- In 2015, the US Office of Personnel Management reported a massive data breach affecting 22 million American civil servants.
- The stolen data included sensitive personal information like social security numbers and employment history.
- The impact of the OPM breach could last for decades, potentially targeting US government employees and contractors.
- Operation Aurora revealed Chinese hacking of American companies, with Google being the first to publicly accuse China.
- Chinese hackers targeted various industries to steal intellectual property for economic advantage.
- Operation Aurora exposed Chinese military involvement in cyber espionage, with hackers linked to the People's Liberation Army.
- The US government indicted five PLA officers for cyber breaches against American companies, marking the first charges against state actors for infiltrating US commercial targets.
16:40
Corporate espionage and China's economic rise.
- An individual from a 1960s-1970s vintage spy movie was approached, turned, and offered money, home, and women, motivated by spycraft techniques and using Skype for communication and file transfers.
- The fallout from the individual's actions led to a stock drop from $25 to $12.50 in a day, causing a valuation decrease from $1.6 billion to $800 million, with the company targeted by the People's Liberation Army for hacking operations to steal corporate secrets.
- China's desire to overtake America economically is evident through hacking operations targeting American companies, with stolen American-made intellectual property aiding China in becoming the number one economic superpower, raising concerns about the future impact on Corporate America.
