China Google hackers' goal: Spying on U.S. Govt.

(CBS News) 

It's the second time Google has blamed a major computer hacking scheme on China, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews.

This time Google says unknown hackers from Jinan, China, a city with a military command center, stole the personal Gmail passwords of hundreds of senior U.S .government officials.

Google said the hackers' "goal" was to eavesdrop on the officials -- "to monitor the content of the users' emails."

Google: New China-based hack against Gmail
Video: China denies hacking Gmail accounts

That suggestion -- of spying -- rang alarm bells in the Administration.

"These allegations are very serious," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "We take them seriously. We're looking into them."

According to a respected security blogger -- the attack that targeted the State Dept. looked like an innocent looking email offering the latest U.S./China joint statement -- but if the reader clicked on the document, what appeared next was a Gmail log in page -- which was fake -- and which fooled some users into giving up their private passwords.

The hackers did not steal any government-owned emails -- but U.S. officials who work at home frequently use Gmail to do government business. White House teams often use Gmail to communicate where and when the President might travel. The risk is growing that too much secure information is being sent on non-secure systems.

"Anyone who works in government should not be using a personal email account such as one that would be found in Gmail on Google to put any classified information or government activity information," said retired General Harry Raduege.

China denies the hacking is state-sponsored, calling that allegation, "completely unfounded and made with ulterior motives."

But the FBI is now investigating -- and this new revelation of hacking is adding heat to the growing friction between the U.S. and China.

[LakeXeno]

I'm all for government transparency and globalsecurity.org. As far as hacking to get that information...that's a shady issue. However, government transparency is definitely needed.

[LakeXeno]

Because of course, you know fort meade and the NSA probably have to hack others to ensure they have the "one up."

[AlFranken]

Don't use paper or printing because we copied it and replicated it from the Chinese.

Don't use gun powder because we copied it and replicated it from the Chinese.

Don't use a compass because we copied it and replicated it from the Chinese.

Don't eat noodles or wear silk because Marco Polo stole and the Italians replicated it.

Shall I go on?

[formrusmcsgt]

China figured out a long time ago that it will never compete with the U.S. technologically.

So they steal all they can to try to stay close.

[chatmandu7451]

We pay to research it and develop it, the Chinese steal it and build it, then we buy it. Aren't we a bunch of fools. Never turn your back on the Chinese or they will stick a knife in it.

[AlFranken]

Four great inventions by the Chinese:
Paper, print, gun powder,and the compass.


others include: The Chinese invented technologies involving mechanics, hydraulics, and mathematics applied to horology, metallurgy, astronomy, agriculture, engineering, music theory, craftsmanship, nautics, and warfare. By the Warring States Period (403-221 BC), they had advanced metallurgic technology, including the blast furnace and cupola furnace, while the finery forge and puddling process


The Chinese replicate ideas from all over -- even their own. They just do it better than most.

Today, they replicate our invention of search engines and chat forums and in many cases made them better such as QQ and maybe Bandui.

Did Americans reinvent any of those or pay royalties to the Chinese?

<obviously a rhetorical question>

[longtree-2009]

wonder if obama will bomb china or does he only bomb small nation states like libya who have little or no military to fight back? would think that hacking is a form of terrorism especially when governments of any nation state are hacked and the nation state harboring hackers should be bombed.

[formrusmcsgt]

I'm guessing you're a neo.

War is the neo solution for everything and we just can't have too many wars going on according to neos.....

[tmittelstaed]

I would guess that all those government employees are actually violating the open records laws that mandate that government business be transacted publically. If a government official sends an answer to your question, by law that answer must be publicized. Sarah Palin was famous for doing this and the rumor was that the AK AG cut her a deal, she either face charges for violating the AK records laws, or she resign and they would keep the real reason for her doing so, quiet.

[spaceatoms]

China is just trying to watch their money that have invested here in the USA in the system........

[kgerton-2009]

My question is this: How did they obtain the "personal" email addresses of 100 top government officials in the first place? Without these addresses they would not have been able to trick them into giving up their passwords to begin with. We need to investigate how this was done.

[BaselessCritique]

@brianwb

There's a business idea in there somewhere. CMail.com -- the safe government spam service.

[babooph]

Do they want to find out how the US govt is losing 2 endless idiotic wars,destroying the middle class,with no jobs ,low wages & tax cuts for the rich to get richer?Or do they want to find out how to get around voters by legalizing lobby bribes to crooked politicians,destroying the health care & school systems,& bringing what was the greatest nation to its knees.Just watch the reoublicrats in 2012,& the crooked propaganda system telling the voters they are important & have a choice...

[berlinfoto-2009]

May be they wish to be more conscientious with their investments, should they the Chinese keep loaning money to the United States, when the United States must borrow one billion dollars every six hours.
Any good banker would want to know if his customer could possibly pay the money back.

[realtimecoffee]

by ToolMangler1 June 2, 2011 10:04 PM EDT I would say that if these Gov people are using GMail, it is to 'Plant' those items they wish into the hands they wish. But like a good spy novel, they make them hard to get.. (real convincing). If you act stupid in the right way, everybody will believe it--

I hope you are right. I hope we are loading them up with so many trojans they look like a truckstop bathroom vending machine.

[saigon2]

Commie stealing. Nothing new hear.

[mgunn89512]

stealing ain't unique to commies,,, think wall street, hedge fund and currency speculators and the entire US and European history on central and south america and africa (and asia - US & England state sponsored and militarily enforced narcotics trade)