U.S. Warns Of Chinese Cyber-Spies

Overseas Travelers Warned That Personal Information Can Be Stolen; No Device Safe

(CBS)  U.S. intelligence officials issued a strong warning Thursday that Americans traveling overseas, particularly visitors to the Olympics in China, face a serious risk of having sensitive information stolen, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

The travel alert is blunt:

"All information you send electronically - by fax machine, personal digital assistant (PDA), computer or telephone - can be intercepted."

In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Joel Brenner, the government's top cyber-security official, urged Americans to leave all devices at home.

"Somebody with a wirless device in China should expect it to be compromised while he's there," Brenner said.

And those who must take phones and BlackBerries with them should remove the batteries.

"The public security services in China can turn your telephone on and activate its microphone when you think it's off," said Brenner.

China is one of a number of countries pushing active cyber-espionage programs aimed primarily at cracking U.S. national security computers and stealing corporate trade secrets. Billions have already been lost.

In addition, cyber-gangs and criminals, many based in Asia, have stolen bank accounts and credit card numbers from an untold number of Americans.

For protection, Brenner's office says, travelers should frequently change passwords, update anti-virus and spyware protections and avoid wireless or WiFi networks when possible. (In some countries they're controlled by state security forces.) The fear is compromised mobile devices give thieves open access to all of your computer files back home.

"We are giving advice based on a pattern that is relentless and ongoing as what we see as information theft," said Brenner.

And the government says no overseas traveler should discount the threat. Don't assume, the bulletin warns, that you're not important enough to be targeted.

Click here for tips from the National Counterintelligence Executive on traveling overseas with electronic devises.

[wardoglrs]

Who cares I would take the China Gov over the US Gov any day. At least they dont have 205 million in prison

[bennyblack1]

So, cheer up! You have a LOT to look forward to! Heh heh heh....you can''t wait, can ya?

[bennyblack1]

Now isn''t that an oxymoron! Wanting to be surrounded by women, and you can''t even interact with them. You just silently do for them, and leave them alone. It''s not like they want you anyhow, they see the green, and they''ll lose it fighting each other over it: you aren''t the issue.

[bennyblack1]

And some of you guys think that you would be able to have *** all you want; you got another thing comin'', because you won''t want to have anything to do with ANY of them!

[bennyblack1]

Some of you might think that would be cool, but I''ve had to deal with 2 women at one time and they were only friends, and I supported one of them. It''s hard even doing that...and you think 7 would be cool???? Thinks again! Talk about nervous breakdowns, lack of sleep, self-sacrifice to insure they eat, while you go without...sure, that''s fun! (completely satire).

[bennyblack1]

Or, as the Bible predicts, one man will be forced into taking care of 7 women because he''s the only one that has an income. (in other words, 7 women will take one man by force, and demand that he lead them because he works on a regular basis).

[bennyblack1]

No... From what I''ve seen, we''ll open a motel and force women into prostitution! That seems to be all that''s left.

[bennyblack1]

If you have a GPS Phone in your car, the calls, both incoming and outgoing are being monitored and recorded as you speak, via satelite. So, do you REALLY think you have any secrets? And do you REALLY think, due to the gods of Convenience, we have ANY privacy???? Think about it. We no longer have the knowledge to survive without it; farms are becoming obselete, hand made items are now made by assembly machines, paperwork can be done by voice via computer, and one man can multi-task using his cell phone AND his computer, effectively doing the work of 10 people without lifting a finger. What will we do WHEN it''s gone? Grow crops?

[bennyblack1]

Even your location, in using these devices, can be tracked. Vehicles with GPS devices are directly linked to satelite, where car manufacturers have hired services to provide aid when you get into an accident, get lost, need your doors unlocked, or need a tow truck.

[bennyblack1]

And again, throughout my day to day business, I use a wireless router and a cell phone. Being ex-military, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that Military Intelligence personnel utilize satelite technology to monitor ALL communications, both personal and business, military and non-military, IN YOUR HOME and out, in the US and abroad. Make NO mistake. There IS NO SUCH THING AS PRIVACY, and you might as well face it: you may THINK you''re keeping secrets, but ALL, and I mean ALL of our secrets are WELL KNOWN, and that leaves no room for exception.

[bennyblack1]

In this city, there is a cell phone device which initially drops your signal and matches it upon your next cell phone call. Hence, the reason that you may be talking to a friend of yours, and then all of a sudden, you find yourself on a police band width BEING MONITORED. Unless you adjust the frequency on the phone and search for another bandwidth, you will continue to be monitored. Some phone automatically do it upon hang up and redial: others you have to manually cause the phone to search for another frequency. Cell phone air, though we pay for it, is a free for all.

[bennyblack1]

What we have all come to depend on as the world-wide web can also become a tool for entrapment. Something that needs to be understood: All wireless communications can be decoded and monitored; therefore, the 9.78K/s wireless home phone can be tapped effortlessly: the cell phone is nothing more that a radio wave which can be intercepted; the GPS chip in the cell phone for those of you that have it, is tracked and monitored by satelite. Therefore, unless you are paying a heavy toll for some unique encryption device for both incoming and outgoing calls for all those whom you communicate with (either business or personal), ARE BEING MONITORED, and it''s not just those calls made outside the US and in, or in the US and out.

[magoo2u1]

Can I assume the same thing isn''t happening here?

[zloa]

You can now have your information stolen by the Chinese or confiscated by airport security when you get back to America.

[my2centss]

"The public security services in China can turn your telephone on and activate its microphone when you think it''s off," said Brenner.

Yeah, they built the thing. Probably could do that anywhere in the world. We trust them to build the stuff and expect them not to have built in spy capabilities?

[alphaa10-2009]

Retired journalism professor said, "Mr. Mitchell should write a letter of apology to his journalism professor with a promise never to insert opinions in a newscast unless they are specifically labeled as commentary."
---
Your reaction seems a bit over the top, especially since the item you criticize is not even featured on this forum. Talk about misplaced focus!

In fact, some readers of your post have no idea what article you criticize-- yours apparently is not a reference to the article above, which mentions only the name of Bob Orr.

In any case, if Beijing is smoggy, that hardly ranks as a personal opinion-- or an inflammatory political gesture. An acquaintance lived there for several years, and still has dust from the Gobi in his ears and smog in his lungs.

[zavghez]

Russ Mitchell is usually a good reporter anchor. But he apparently forgot one of the basic journalism lessons he was taught at the University of Missouri. Keep your opinions to yourself.

He said "smoggy Beijing" in his transition between the story about an airplane with U.S. reporters stuck on the Beijing runway for three hours and a package on Cyber-Spies.

Neither story had anything to do with smog. The editorial comment was unprofessional and unethical. His remark could have worked in a transition to how Olympic soccer players reacted to smog during the opening round of competition. Otherwise, Mr. Mitchell%u2019s opinion about Beijing%u2019s environmental issues was ill-advised and inappropriate.

Mr. Mitchell should write a letter of apology to his journalism professor with a promise never to insert opinions in a newscast unless they are specifically labeled as commentary.

Sincerely,
Retired journalism professor.

[zavghez]

Russ Mitchell is usually a good reporter anchor. But he apparently forgot one of the basic journalism lessons he was taught at the University of Missouri. Keep your opinions to yourself.

He said "smoggy Beijing" in his transition between the story about an airplane with U.S. reporters stuck on the Beijing runway for three hours and a package on Cyber-Spies.

Neither story had anything to do with smog. The editorial comment was unprofessional and unethical. His remark could have worked in a transition to how Olympic soccer players reacted to smog during the opening round of competition. Otherwise, Mr. Mitchell%u2019s opinion about Beijing%u2019s environmental issues was ill-advised and inappropriate.

Mr. Mitchell should write a letter of apology to his journalism professor with a promise never to insert opinions in a newscast unless they are specifically labeled as commentary.

Sincerely,
Retired journalism professor.

[rf35]

Well, that''s nice to know. I''m glad I don''t ever plan to go to China.

[allurfears]

"China is an advanced police state with no equal in the world...."

Uncle Sam is closing the gap very rapidly.

Posted by pirmin3 at 03:54 AM : Aug 08, 2008
------------

The USA is growing the means to become a Police State. However, it is a LONG way from where China is. The very fact that you can post your criticism on this board without fear shows the difference. In China you would be arrested. No- you simply would have your posts deleted immediately, and if you tried to post enough times- THEN you would be arrested.

There isn''t even a remote comparison between the dictatorship and police state of China and the US or the liberal democracies in the West. No one says the US does not make mistakes or is right now heading in a wrong direction, but to equate the totalitarian police state already constructed in China to the modern US is completely fallacious.