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.

[cbsblogger]

Thank God the Republicans, the Business Round Table, and the US Chamber of Commerce have propelled the Chinese into the slot of dominant player in the world economy, and all for the sake of more profits for US multi-nationals such as Wal-Mart.

[lovegetpeace]

Gov''t Warns Against Israel Cyber-Spys
Gov''t Warns Against Russian Cyber-Spys
Gov''t Warns Against Vietnam Cyber-Spys
Gov''t Warns Against Venezuela Cyber-Spys
...
etc

Nothing new here. This boring journalist probably had nothing else to write about.

[whitemale08]

I''m always skeptical about these Government Warnings.

It seems like there is always some new fiefdom to be granted to some clown with a connection on Wall Street to create some new way to suck money out of our pockets.

[vietnam21]

This all began with Clinton. He is invite the Chinese to WTO.

[jmurrieta1]

A bit like locking the barn door, etc. etc.

The Bushes and especially the Clintons invited hundreds of thousands of Asian nationals into the US to work in our top university and industrial labs.

Some fraction of these were doubtless Red Chinese agents, sent to steal information and to leave electronic moles and bots around.

This was called the H1B visa program.

Indeed, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates, and the rest of the crowd got their pet senator, Dianne Feinstein, to bring in lots of Chinese "students".

They thought they''d save money by not paying American salaries, but in fact they sold our future for money.

So don''t come crying to me now about laptops at the Olympics!

[cbsfan73]

I''m still trying to figure out what kind of nut would want to go to the Olympics...

[Syndicate]

The FBI can turn your microphone on too.

Hmmm, how is China''s electronic monitoring any different than that of the USA?

Hepting v. AT&T is a United States class action lawsuit filed in January 2006 by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) against the telecom company AT&T, in which the EFF alleges that AT&T permitted and assisted the United States Government in unlawfully monitoring the communications of a large part of the USA, including AT&T customers, businesses and third parties whose communications were routed through AT&T''s network, as well as Voice over IP telephone calls routed via the internet.

Ed Whitaker, *** Cheney & George W Bush did you just stomp on my freedom?

[erasmus81]

"The FBI can turn your microphone on too." Posted by cbscrash07 at 08:48 PM : Aug 07, 2008


I may not like the FBI doing it, but you can bet I sure as hell wouldn''t want CHINA doing it.

[zykracosmos]

Bottom line... don''t store anything sensitive on your computer hard drive. Keep documents on a flash drive and don''t allow your computer to store backups. Access your documents when you are offline. Use tracks eraser daily to empty log that may be used to profile you by an intruder. Assume anyone may be listening to any telephone call anytime and refrain from spilling sensitive information over the phone. Avoid sending sensitive information by email, and if you must, take the time to encrypt it. Don''t sweat the small stuff. What does it matter if a Chinese spy overhears that you broke up with your girlfriend. Remember the Verizon commercial with the crowd? Try to imagine that crowd listening to your conversations, and be conservative about what you speak about on open airwaves.

[txlakeside]

Dumb as dirt and the SHRUB who leads you .... why would you even go to China and support such a facist, repressive regime. Boycott the olymoics, dont watch it on TV and send a message to BIG Business .... repression is not right, supporting regimes that do it is not right and advertising with them is not right.

The Chinese would have shut this Forum down by now. Unless you are a right wing neocon who is in debt to China you should do the right thing and ignore the Olympics! Otherwise, shut up and do what the SHRUB did .... BAD CHINA, BAD CHINA, ON WITH THE GAMES!

Dumb as dirt, freedom "chickens" and twice as crooked!

[txlakeside]

FREEDOM for IRAQ .... SUPRESSION IN CHINA IS OK!

You guys really are dumb as dirt!

TERRORISM IS BAD .... REPRESSION IS OK!

the Chinese sound like a bunch of neocon, right wing moralistic, controling evangelicals trying to control their peoples every move action and speech. .... opps ... that is exactly what they are!

[pirmin3]

You don''t have to go to China to get spied on. Your friendly guvment in the US has been doing it for a long time. The GOP uniform is brown shirts and jack boots.

[shameonbush]

And why is China hosting the Olympics?

[tmn]

Cause they need more credit card numbers!!

[alphaa10-2009]

CISCO and other patriotic US electronics firms sold the PRC their best equipment to monitor digital traffic to identify and arrest dissidents-- including pro-democracy activists.

The same equipment or more capable devices have been made available to the US government. The only difference is our government, according to the rule of law, is prohibited from spying on US citizens.

At least, that is the way our law is supposed to work.

That is, unless Bush breaks the law, anyway, and dares anyone to prosecute his high crimes and misdeanors.

And unless certain unpatriotic congressmen endorse the breaking of law by extending retroactive immunity to companies which aid and abet politicians who break the law.

[alphaa10-2009]

Does anyone at the CBS copy desk know how to spell "spies"?

"Spys"?

---

The Anti-Pulitzer Award

With deadline pressure we embrace
Any spelling which fills up the space
Hoping those paid to know better
With grammar and letter
Will ignore the "flys" on our face.

[shameonbush]

What kind of information are they looking for? What good does it do China to read my emails? I''m afraid they''d be bored out of their heads if they read mine. What good does my contact list do them? I don''t get what they look for.

[alphaa10-2009]

Computer Security-- 2

For example, knowing how a website is protected can indicate means to attack the website. About one year ago, there was an undeclared cyberwar between Estonians and Russians over Estonian removal of Russian WW2 statues. By probing and then flooding Estonian government websites with messages, Russian attackers basically immobilized Estonian government web functions.

The PRC''s "Titan Rain" surveillance of the US cyber-infrastructure is designed to permit what one Chinese military writer called the ability to blind one''s opponent. This is done by (1) depriving the network of basic functions (as with the Estonian websites) and/or (2) injecting false information into a target network which converts the target network into a "host" for further attacks on the infrastructure of a nation.

Once we realize how dependent all our banking and other commerce, communications, and even governmental functions depend on computer networks, we understand why personal computer security is a national security issue.

[alphaa10-2009]

shameonbush asks, "I don''''t get what they look for."
---
The cyberspy seeks data, but not always something you normally would call "private" information. Whereas a hacker (aka computer criminal) may want your credit card number, a cyberspymay want as much data as possible about the overall structure, including security safeguards, of the network operated by your internet provider and/or phone provider.

To obtain that information, it helps a great deal to steal your login and password for undetected intrusion. But a cyberspy may not use the personal access codes for personal / financial gain, but simply to expose points of vulnerability which can be exploited to penetrate and control your network.

(see Computer Security-- 2)

[allurfears]

Anyone who is confused about what the Authoritarian Capitalist government in China is doing to its people only need read Naomi Klein''s article in this issue of Huffington Post. Chinese tyranny is a danger to every freedom-loving person in the world. It exercises a complete control of a society that makes Orwell''s world of "1984" look positively free.

There is no excuse for subjugation of a population. There is no excuse for eliminating every avenue of dissent and free thought. There is no excuse for providing support to a regime that sees its people as nothing more than a means to an end- power, riches, and total control. The Beijing Olympics will go down in history along with the Berlin Games of 1932 as a sad event supporting a despicable dictatorship.

[allurfears]

China is an advanced police state with no equal in the world. What is clear is that the tipping point has been reached in China. There is no going back- Tyranny has won in China. Within 5 years, the Chinese dictatorship will have complete control over every avenue of communication and association. The concepts of liberty and civil rights will be completely removed from the public consciousness by police and technical means. What chance is there for an end to the police state/dictatorship once that happens? You cannot "organize" dissent. You cannot even talk about liberty. Try Googling "Freedom" in China. The word does not exist. To paraphrase Orwell, "Obedience is freedom" in China. Newspeak is the language of China today

[pirmin3]

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

Uncle Sam is closing the gap very rapidly.

[smurfcrusher]

Yes, it''s OK for Bush and Cheney to spy on US citizens (according to them, anyway). They never asked me...


Maybe they''re worried the Chinese will uncover documents about Cheney''s secret energy policy, or Bush''s torture program.

[smurfcrusher]

baby2700625 has been reported for SPAMming in violation of Terms of Service.

[pugster]

If the US are the good guys, I guess that the NSA spends billions of dollars on its water cooled computers to predict the weather instead of spying on us.

[greeneyes222]

The threat from China is very real.

Unfortunately, there are some kiddies on here who want to make everything political and show how clever they are. The Chinese don''t care which party is in power over here, and they don''t care who you like or don''t like. But thanks for the demonstration of how the American education system is failing us all by not teaching critical thinking skills.

[observer2020]

Like there is such a thing as privacy nowadays. Big Brother is watching you from every angle.

[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.

[rf35]

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

[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.

[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.

[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?

[zloa]

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

[magoo2u1]

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

[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.

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[wardoglrs]

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