Computerworld web attacks News

White House orders security review in wake of WikiLeaks disclosure

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:26:00 GMT

The White House has ordered all federal agencies to review systems for protecting sensitive data due to the latest release of potentially damaging classified data by WikiLeaks.

Leaked U.S. document links China to Google attack

(Robert McMillan) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:10:00 GMT

A State Department source in China told the U.S. that the Chinese government was behind the Google Aurora attacks last year.

Update: Researchers track cyber-espionage ring to China

(Sumner Lemon) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:20:00 GMT

Researchers in the U.S. and Canada have tracked and documented a sophisticated cyber-espionage network based in China, dubbed Shadow, that targeted computers in several countries, including systems belonging to the Indian government and military.

Google, China now playing cat and mouse?

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:51:00 GMT

Google late yesterday reversed its earlier statement and now says that the Chinese government is likely responsible for the difficulties some users in the country had accessing its sites early this week.

McAfee: 'Amateur' malware not used in Google attacks

(Robert McMillan) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:54:00 GMT

A misstep by McAfee security researchers apparently helped confuse the security research community about the hackers who targeted Google and many other major corporations in cyber attacks last year.

Military warns of 'increasingly active' cyber-threat from China

pthibodeau@computerworld.com (Patrick Thibodeau) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:27:00 GMT

On the same day that Google Inc. and the GoDaddy Group Inc. complained about China to a congressional committee, U.S. Navy Adm. Robert Willard appeared before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee with an even stronger warning about cyber-threats posed by China.

China: Google 'totally wrong' to stop censoring

(Owen Fletcher) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:33:00 GMT

Google was "totally wrong" to stop censoring results on its China-based search engine, Chinese state-controlled media cited a government official as saying early Tuesday.

Update: Google stops censoring in China

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:43:00 GMT

Google today said it has stopped censoring results in China, acting on a decision it made in January.

Google's China move ignores conventional wisdom

(Sumner Lemon) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:37:00 GMT

Google's decision to stop censoring search engine results in China, announced in a blog posting Monday, flies in the face of common wisdom when it comes to doing business in the country.

Google's China ad partners wait in 'incomparable pain'

(Owen Fletcher) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:24:00 GMT

A group of ad resellers for Google in China have asked the company to explain what will happen to them if Google shuts its China-based search engine, saying they have waited in "incomparable pain" since Google announced the possible move.

Google may soon leave China, reports say

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:54:00 GMT

Google is likely to close its Chinese operations soon as its negotiations with the Chinese government are apparently breaking down.

U.S. expert blames Chinese government for recent cyberattacks

(Grant Gross) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:25:00 GMT

The Chinese government is likely behind recent cyberattacks on U.S. government Web sites and on U.S. companies in an apparent effort to quash criticism of the government there, an expert on U.S. and Chinese relations said Wednesday.

Update: Attacks on Google may have been work of amateurs

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:01:00 GMT

Contrary to popular assumptions, the recent cyberattacks against Google and more than 30 other high-tech companies were carried out by relatively unsophisticated attackers using outdated botnet tools, according to an Atlanta-based security firm.

More than 100 companies targeted by Google hackers

(Robert McMillan) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

The hackers who broke into Google two months ago have gone after more than 100 companies, according to an estimate by security vendor Isec Partners.

Source: Google cancels Android developer event in China

(Owen Fletcher) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:26:00 GMT

Google's row with the Chinese government has led it to cancel an event for Android developers in China next week, according to a person familiar with the situation, in the latest show of the dustup's effect on Google operations in China.

Intel confirms 'sophisticated' attacks in January

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:45:00 GMT

Intel was targeted by 'sophisticated' attacks in January, at about the same time that Google reported its network had been breached, allegedly by Chinese hackers.

Chinese schools deny role in Google hack

(Owen Fletcher) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:09:00 GMT

Two schools in China where computers were reportedly linked to cyberattacks on Google and other companies have denied involvement in the hack, Chinese state media said Sunday.

Chinese school linked to Google attacks also linked to '01 attacks on White House site

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:06:00 GMT

One of two Chinese academic institutions identified in a New York Times report Thursday as the apparent source of the recent attacks against Google, has also been linked to a hacker who may have been involved with the takedown of whitehouse.gov nine years ago.

After China pull-out bluster, will Google backtrack?

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:21:00 GMT

It has been a long three and a half weeks since Google made the dramatic announcement that it will no longer censor its search results in China, even if that means exiting that huge Internet market.

EPIC files FOIA request over reported Google, NSA partnership

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:15:00 GMT

Privacy advocacy group EPIC has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the NSA asking for details on the agency's purported partnership with Google on cybersecurity issues.

Reported Google-NSA alliance sets off privacy alarms

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:03:00 GMT

In a development that is already causing alarm among privacy advocates, search engine giant Google Inc. is reported to be enlisting the help of the National Security Agency to investigate recent cyberattacks that Google says originated from China.

At Black Hat, a search for the best response to China

pthibodeau@computerworld.com (Patrick Thibodeau) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:20:00 GMT

Google's revelation last month that attacks out of China resulted in the theft of some of its data drew attention to the broader question at the Black Hat conference of what can be done to the villains.

Senator questions tech companies on China activities

(Nancy Gohring) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is seeking information from 30 technology companies in advance of a hearing he is planning on their human rights practices in China.

China takes step to toughen hacking laws

(Owen Fletcher) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:05:00 GMT

Chinese police and judicial officials are formulating new measures that govern how hacking crimes are handled by courts, the country's latest step to strengthen its cyber laws, state media reported.

China hacks used as lure for more targeted attacks

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:06:00 GMT

Malicious hackers have begun using the recent cyberattacks against Google and more than 30 other companies as lures for launching even more targeted attacks, security firm F-Secure said in a blog post today.

IE attacks pose small threat to U.S., big risk to China

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:52:00 GMT

Security researchers say that the hackers exploiting an Internet Explorer bug are far more likely to hit Chinese computers users than those in the U.S. The hackers are believed to be working from China.

China slams Clinton's call for Internet freedom

(Owen Fletcher) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:30:00 GMT

China on Friday slammed remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promoting Internet freedom worldwide, saying her words harmed U.S.-China relations.

Widespread attacks exploit newly patched IE bug

(Robert McMillan) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:47:00 GMT

The first widespread attack to leverage a recently patched flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has surfaced.

Microsoft patches IE, admits it knew of bug last August

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:52:00 GMT

As Microsoft patched the Internet Explorer zero-day used to break into Google's network, it acknowledged that it had known of the bug since August 2009, when an Israeli security company reported the flaw.

Clinton: U.S. gov't will push harder against Web censorship

(Grant Gross) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:47:00 GMT

The State Department will launch several new initiatives focused on fighting Internet censorship, including working with businesses and other groups to develop mobile apps that help residents of countries with repressive governments report problems, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.

Firefox, Opera downloads soar after IE warnings

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:22:00 GMT

Mozilla yesterday reported a "huge increase" in downloads of Firefox in Germany after that country's computer security agency urged IE users to dump the browser and run a rival instead.

Microsoft to issue emergency IE patch Thursday

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:43:00 GMT

Microsoft will release its emergency patch for Internet Explorer (IE) on Thursday, the company said, as it also admitted that attacks can be hidden inside rigged Office documents.

Security researcher IDs China link in Google hack

(Robert McMillan) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:22:00 GMT

The malicious software used to steal information Google and other companies contains code that links it to China, a security researcher said Tuesday

Microsoft promises emergency IE patch

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:33:00 GMT

Microsoft today announced that it will issue an emergency security update for Internet Explorer (IE), but postponed setting a ship date for the fix until Wednesday.

Researchers up ante, create exploits for IE7, IE8

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:14:00 GMT

Researchers have created attack code that exploits a zero-day vulnerability in IE7 as well as in the newest IE8 -- even when Microsoft's recommended defensive measure is on.

Hackers wield newest IE exploit in drive-by attacks

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT

A security researcher said hackers are attacking some PC users by using an Internet Explorer exploit allegedly used last month to break into Google's network.

Three lessons for businesses from the Google attack

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT

The cyberattacks against Google and more than 30 other technology companies by adversaries operating out of China highlights what some call the Advanced Persistent Threat confronting a growing number of U.S commercial entities.

China: We are biggest victim of cyberattacks

(Owen Fletcher) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:18:00 GMT

China on Tuesday denied any role in alleged cyberattacks on Indian government offices, calling China itself the biggest victim of hackers.

Google cyberattack probe includes employees

(Agam Shah) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:16:00 GMT

Google's investigation of a cyberattack that rocked the company's infrastructure in mid-December includes a probe of its staff in China, a source familiar with the investigation said on Monday.

Attack code used to hack Google now public

(Robert McMillan) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:22:00 GMT

The dangerous Internet Explorer attack code used in last month's attack on Google's corporate networks is now public.

Vendor retracts claim of Adobe flaw's part in Google attack

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:50:00 GMT

A vendor that earlier this week claimed that a vulnerability in Adobe Reader appeared to have resulted in the recent attacks against Google and other companies has retracted that claim.

Google runs Microsoft's IE, attacks show

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:20:00 GMT

Google's corporate network was hacked because its workers were running rival Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, a point that didn't escape the notice of security researchers and Web users.

U.S. to lodge formal protest with China over alleged cyberattacks

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:29:00 GMT

The U.S. will lodge a formal protest with China over the nation's alleged involvement in cyberattacks against Google.

Microsoft confirms IE zero-day behind Google attack

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:45:00 GMT

Microsoft issued a security advisory today that warned users of a critical and unpatched vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE), and acknowledged that it had been used to hack several companies' networks.

Yahoo reportedly hit by China hackers

(Robert McMillan) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Yahoo was one of more than 30 companies hit by a sophisticated online attack from China, designed to steal intellectual property and collect information on Chinese dissidents, several news sources reported Thursday.

Hackers used IE zero-day, not PDF, in China-Google attacks

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Hackers exploited an unpatched vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser to break into some of the firms targeted in a widespread attack that compromised Google's and Adobe's networks, McAfee said today.

Alleged China attacks could test U.S. cybersecurity policy

jvijayan@computerworld.com (Jaikumar Vijayan) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:58:00 GMT

The attacks on Google and more than 30 other Silicon Valley companies by agents allegedly working for China raises a question: How should the U.S. government respond?

Law firm in Green Dam suit targeted with cyberattack

(Robert McMillan) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:17:00 GMT

The law firm representing a U.S. company involved in a legal dispute over China's Green Dam censorship software says it was targeted with a sophisticated online attack this week, similar to the one reported by Google Tuesday.

Hackers used rigged PDFs to hit Google -- and Adobe, says researcher

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:01:00 GMT

Adobe today confirmed that the cyberattack that hit its corporate network earlier this month was connected to the large-scale attacks Google cited yesterday as one reason it might abandon China.

Hacking risks persist even if firms leave China

(Jeremy Kirk) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:18:00 GMT

Google and other enterprises still face a bleak computer security landscape that makes their companies vulnerable to hackers, whether they do business in China or not, analysts say.