Chinese hackers 'broke into US personnel network'

BBC ^ | July 10 2014 | BBC

[PoloSec]

Chinese hackers broke into a US government network in an attempt to gain personal information on thousands of employees, US media report.

First reported by the New York Times, the hackers in March allegedly targeted those applying for high-level security clearance positions.

Secretary of State John Kerry called the incident an "attempted intrusion" that was still under investigation.

The report has not officially been confirmed by the US homeland security.

Both countries have long accused each other of cyberspying.

The US acknowledges that it conducts espionage but says unlike China it does not spy on foreign companies and pass what it finds to its own companies, the BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie says.

Beijing typically shrugs accusations off as a smear motivated by those who find its growing technological might hard to bear, our correspondent adds.

Mr Kerry told the Associated Press news agency on Thursday he and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, who are in China as part of an annual forum between the two governments, were only notified of the accusation of wrongdoing after the gathering's conclusion.

"We did not raise it in specific terms," he said about the latest accusation, adding it did not appear sensitive material was compromised. "We raised the subject, obviously."

[Hulka]

And yes, obozo and his tribe continue to insist all your personal and private medical information should be on-line. . .

[DonaldC]

Some stuff should not be on the public internet.

[SMARTY]

Maybe looking for the birth certificate!

[alloysteel]

Maybe they have a full transcript of all of Lois Lerner’s e-mails.

We should ask.

[upchuck]

Reason number 82 why I’m thrilled to not be a gvt drone.

[lee martell]

Obama would rather play pool and pose for selfies with school kids than be bother with the ‘boring’ Chinese.

[Sawdring]

Its in your book but the wrong guys thieved the personnel files.