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China Denies Hacking Pentagon Computers
Associated Press ^ | September 4, 2007 | By Anita Chang

Posted on 09/04/2007 6:16:17 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL

BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday denied a report that its military had hacked into Pentagon computers, saying the allegations were "groundless" and that Beijing was opposed to cybercrime.

The Financial Times, citing unnamed officials, reported Monday that the People's Liberation Army hacked into a computer system in the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates in June. The attack forced officials to take down the network for more than a week, the report said.

"Some people make groundless accusations against China" that its military attacked the Pentagon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing.

"China has all along been opposed to and forbids criminal activities undermining computer networks, including hacking," she said. "China is ready to strengthen cooperation with other countries, including the U.S., in countering Internet crimes."

The Financial Times report said the Pentagon was still investigating how much information was stolen, but cited an unnamed person as saying that most of it was probably unclassified.

It was the second time in two weeks that China was accused of hacking into a foreign government's computers. On the eve of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Beijing last week, the weekly Der Spiegel said computers at the Chancellery and three ministries had been infected with so-called Trojans, or spy programs.

The report, which did not specify its sources, said Germany's domestic intelligence agency believed a group of hackers associated with the People's Liberation Army might have been behind the alleged hacking.

At the time, Premier Wen Jiabao called the reported hacking a "matter of grave concern" and said China would take "firm and effective action" to prevent such crimes.

The Pentagon warned earlier this year that China's army is emphasizing hacking as an offensive weapon. It cited Chinese military exercises in 2005 that included hacking "primarily in first strikes against enemy networks."

The Associated Press reported in July that the State Department was trying to recover from large-scale network break-ins affecting operations worldwide. The hackers appeared to target the department headquarters and offices dealing with China and North Korea, it was reported.

However, experts have said that China is home to a large number of insecure computers and networks that hackers in other countries could use to disguise their locations and launch attacks.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; denial; dod; hacker

1 posted on 09/04/2007 6:16:20 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
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To: Duchess47; jahp; LilAngel; metmom; EggsAckley; Battle Axe; SweetCaroline; Grizzled Bear; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
”Made in China” Ping.

(Please FReepmail me if you would like to be on or off of the list.)
2 posted on 09/04/2007 6:17:17 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
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To: JACKRUSSELL

“China denies.......”

I wonder why anyone considers this news. Isn’t it just a given?


3 posted on 09/04/2007 6:23:03 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom

Hillary believes them.


4 posted on 09/04/2007 6:25:18 PM PDT by MaxMax (God Bless America)
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To: JACKRUSSELL
China on Tuesday denied a report that its military had hacked into Pentagon computers, saying the allegations were "groundless" and that Beijing was opposed to cybercrime.

Two different things. To the Chi Coms, cybercrime includes circumventing google.cn's block on images from the Tienanmen Square massacre.

5 posted on 09/04/2007 6:41:14 PM PDT by weegee (NO THIRD TERM. America does not need another unconstitutional Clinton co-presidency.)
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To: MaxMax

She would.


6 posted on 09/04/2007 6:45:33 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

Yeah, well, this from a country that calls itself a “People’s Republic”. Woids don’t mean nuthin’.


7 posted on 09/04/2007 7:23:31 PM PDT by Humble Servant (Keep it simple - do what's right.)
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To: RepoGirl

Ping.


8 posted on 09/04/2007 8:01:17 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
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To: JACKRUSSELL
It is becoming more and more obvious that Russia, China, and several other nations should simply be cut out of the civilized world's communications system, because they are not civilized enough to use it in a constructive manner.
9 posted on 09/04/2007 8:03:58 PM PDT by JasonC
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To: JACKRUSSELL

“China Denies Hacking Pentagon Computers”...of course it does.


10 posted on 09/04/2007 8:13:03 PM PDT by Lancer_N3502A
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To: JACKRUSSELL

Yeah right I believe them. NOT!!!!!!


11 posted on 09/04/2007 8:50:31 PM PDT by sweetiepiezer (Part of the RIGHT-Wing Machine.)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

It has to be the case that the reason the USA doesn’t make a bigger fuss about this is that the USA is actively engaging in pretty thourough —though maybe less intrusive — is signals intelligence & warfare.


12 posted on 09/04/2007 9:25:29 PM PDT by ckilmer
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