Attacks

China dismisses accusations of cyber-attacks

China’s officials appeared very displeased with the accusations brought upon the country by two United States lawmakers, who claimed that their office computers have been compromised by several Chinese attacks, dismissing the allegations as completely unfounded.

U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican and also Republican Christopher Smith from the House Foreign Affairs Committee addressed the FBI with claims of internet attacks from inside China and demanded a rapid solution for a better government protection of computers and cell phones from cyber-attacks.

Apparently, the computers contained very sensitive and classified information about several issues concerning China, such as the highly debated human rights matter and the two U.S. representatives have no doubt that the Chinese government was responsible.

"The Internet can be used as a terror weapon. It can be used as a disinformation apparatus," Smith said, as quoted by the WashingtonPost. "And nobody has done that more expertly than the Chinese government," he added.

Even though the IP address might point out the location of the attackers, according to many specialists, for experts using the proper tools, the procedure of appearing in a certain location while being in another is rather simple.

Qin Gang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, explained, according to Reuters, that there is no real evidence supporting the accusations and the technology knowledge needed for such an action is currently, out of his country’s reach. He also added that people in the United States should stop making sensational remarks all the time and should rather focus on the activities and ideas that could bring the two countries closer, through friendship and understanding.

(Published by eFlux Media - june 12, 2008)