US report warns of China cyber threat

A congressional advisory panel warned that a Chinese cyberattack on the US would be near-certain in the event of conflict and that the US lacks a policy to determine an appropriate response to such an action, The Wall Street Journal reported. A Northrop Grumman (NOC.NYSE) report for the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which analyzed Chinese cyber-capabilities and threats facing the US, found that the American telecommunications supply chain is especially vulnerable to attack and “catastrophic failure” of critical infrastructure. Few measures are used to ensure the integrity of telecommunictations products, providing opportunities for security breaches. Analysts warned that the Chinese government has funded research at civilian universities and China’s People’s Liberation Army to amplify cyberwarfare training and defensive techniques for the past three years. Chinese officials have repeatedly denied allegations of cyberspying and attributed US accusations to a “Cold War mentality.”