Over 100 countries hit by electronic spying operation (Lead)
March 29th, 2009 - 11:06 pm ICT by IANSNew York/Toronto, March 29 (DPA) A spying operation that infiltrated computers - many of them belonging to governments - in 103 countries has been uncovered by a group of Canadian researchers, the New York Times reported Sunday.
Victims of the malicious software, or malware, include computers in the offices of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan exile centres around the world, NATO headquarters in Brussels, and the Indian embassy to the United States.
In all, 1,295 computers might have been accessed and had documents copied by the system, which the researchers dubbed GhostNet.
In addition, the malware could also be used to turn the computers’ own camera and audio systems into observation devices for the malware’s operators. The researchers, however, could not confirm if this application was put into practice.
The report, to be released this week by the Munk Center for International Studies at the University of Toronto, says the spying system was controlled by computers based almost entirely in China.
The researchers were careful not to accuse the Chinese government of being behind the security breach.
“We’re a bit more careful about it, knowing the nuance of what happens in the subterranean realms,” researcher Ronald J. Deibert was quoted as saying. “This could well be the CIA or the Russians. It’s a murky realm that we are lifting the lid on.”
Gao Wenqi, spokesman for the Chinese Consulate in New York, gave an unequivocal denial of Chinese government involvement, saying: “These are old stories and they are nonsense. The Chinese government is opposed to and strictly forbids any cyber crime.”
However, the New York Times reported several instances where Chinese officials reacted to data that was picked up by GhostNet.
In one case, a foreign diplomat was advised by the Chinese government not to meet with the Dalai Lama after the Tibetan leader’s office emailed him an invitation.
The center began its investigation after a request from the Dalai Lama’s office to check its computers for potentially damaging software.
- To bust Chinese hackers, NATO sees an ally in India - Sep 09, 2011
- Chinese cyber espionage on India exposed - Apr 07, 2010
- Cyber espionage: Chinese hackers steal India's secret files (Lead) - Apr 07, 2010
- Dalai Lama's office admits computers have been hacked - Mar 30, 2009
- Canadian researchers uncover spy plot against Dalai Lama - Mar 29, 2009
- Canadian researchers reveal how they cracked Chinese spy scam on Dalai Lama - Mar 30, 2009
- Chinese hack into Indian embassies, steal Dalai Lama's documents - Mar 29, 2009
- Dalai Lama demands probe into alleged hacking of Tibetan websites by China - Mar 31, 2009
- US cables link China to Google hacking: WikiLeaks - Dec 05, 2010
- Hackers can't hack top-secret data of military: Internet scientist - May 21, 2009
- Canadian, US researchers reveal India-focused spy ring based in China - Apr 06, 2010
- New malware could knock out antivirus systems - Dec 12, 2011
- Cyber-spies used social sites to trick Dalai Lama's office: US expert - Mar 30, 2009
- Dala Lama's security tightened at Bodh Gaya - Jan 07, 2012
- Tibetan self immolations: Why isn't the world listening? (Comment) - Mar 29, 2012
Tags: canadian researchers, chinese consulate in new york, chinese government, chinese officials, cyber crime, dalai lama, gao, government involvement, indian embassy, lifting the lid, malicious software, nato headquarters, new york times, nuance, ronald j deibert, security breach, tibetan exile, tibetan leader, toronto march, university of toronto