[photopress:IT_computer_hacking.jpg,full,alignright]China has officially denied targeting foreign government and military computer networks and said it has not been asked by any nation to investigate alleged hacking.
The problem is that the media generally world-wide is in a feeding frenzy over this story, possibly urged on by people with an ax to grind. The media reports always cite ‘unidentified officials’ or ‘sources that cannot be revealed’ to state unequivocally that the Chinese army have hacked into networks in Germany, the United States and Britain.
Mostly these stories sound like the one about the Russian troops passing through England and being recognized because they had snow on their boots.
What it needs is for one of these unidentified sources to give chapter and verse about the hacks and exactly when and where they took place. This they have consistently failed to do.
China has denied the accusations and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the government ‘has all along been opposed to and forbidden any cyber crimes. To say that the military of China has made cyber attacks against foreign government networks is groundless and irresponsible and born out of ulterior motives.’
Which sounds a bit strong but is very possibly the exact truth. Certainly the media in the United States has been on to it like a starving dingo on a dead rabbit. It is the sort of story they love. Sort of the Bourne Ultimatum crossed with cyberspace. If only Paris Hilton could have been in some way worked into the story their happiness would have been complete.
Officials in the three alleged target countries have refused to go on the record citing China as the source of the hacking.
Yes, it is said the issue was raised during a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last month but it is reported that Angela Merkel did not demand an investigation. Which would have happened if there had been concrete evidence.
Jiang Yu said, ‘According to my knowledge, China’s police have not received any requests from relevant countries for a joint investigation.’
Source: Sydney Morning Herald and research.