US Congressman Claims Computers Hacked By Chinese

Representative Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia, said Wednesday that the FBI found that four of his government computers have been hacked by sources working in China. Wolf is a long-time critic of China's human rights record and a spokesman for the congressman said the four computers were being used by staff members working on human rights issues. “I think this is very bad because you have the Chinese compromising and gaining access to computers of any number of members of the House and a major committee of the House,” Wolf told The Associated Press. “We don't know how many others.”

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had no immediate comment. Last week, China denied accusations that it's officials had secretly copied the contents of a US government laptop during a visit to China by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and used the information to try to hack into Commerce Department computers.

Globe and Mail story here.

Intelligence Community Take To The Virtual Spaces

An article in Federal Computer Week (FCW) suggests that the intelligence community is taking the virtual space seriously, forecasting that it may become the next frontier in espionage. In preparation for this, "intelligence community officials have organized a summer meeting that will involve members with secret clearances." The disappointingly named the "Summer Hard Problem Program", doesn't sound very cloak and dagger at all, will last four weeks. “One of the best places to learn about an adversary is to learn their space,” says Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director and chief technology officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

More Chinese hacking allegations

The head of MI5, Britain's domestic spy agency made famous by Ian Flemming's James Bond character, says that “Chinese state organizations” are spying on British financial institutions, accountancies and legal firms. MI5 apparently sent letters to the heads of 300 British firms warning them of the hacking attempts and telling them how to identify Chinese trojans within their computer systems. The Chinese have not responded to this specific allegation but have previously denied any wrong doing saying that they too have been the target of hackers. I'll bet it's Goldfinger or Scaramanga!