Cyber Espionage Tensions Escalate: China Accuses U.S. of Decade-Long Hacking Campaign

    In a grave escalation of cybersecurity tensions, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has indicted the United States of malicious cyber espionage against its telecommunication titan, Huawei. Capitalizing on spyware and backdoors since as early as 2009, the U.S. has allegedly infiltrated servers, purloined critical data, and initiated countless network attacks within Chinese boundaries, according to MSS.

    Amid rising geopolitical clashes, this audacious claim bolsters pre-existing strife. In this cyber warfare chess game, some of the problematic artifacts identified by China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre (NCVERC) include an invasive spyware named Second Date. Supposedly developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), this spyware is competent in hijacking network traffic, monitoring digital activity, and worming in harmful code to cause irreparable damage.

    It’s not just China on Second Date’s hit list. Numerous nations such as Germany, Japan, India, and Taiwan are purportedly in its crosshairs, a continuum in America’s decade-long legacy of cyber attacks and espionage operations. The U.S.’s incessant focus has been on the industries of telecom, scientific research, economy, energy, and military, according to MSS.

    Ironically enough, in a case of the pot calling the kettle black, China has labeled the U.S. as “the world’s biggest hacking empire and global cyber thief,” especially following Microsoft’s recent disclosure of a China-linked espionage campaign. As the war of words intensifies, expect the rhetoric to shift from cyber penetration operations to diplomatic relations real soon.

    Interestingly, amidst this maelstrom, Huawei has adopted a strategic bend towards artificial intelligence (AI), intending to spark an AI revolution by shaping a robust computing cog for domestic and international growth. This move aims to transform Huawei into an AI ecosystem giant, and significantly influence the course of AI globally. Yet, amid the mounting accusations and political tension, the fate of Huawei’s new endeavors and the cyber espionage saga remains uncertain.

    Lastly, U.S.’s top intelligence official, Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper, has categorized China and Russia as prime cyberthreats. Despite bilateral accords to curtail commercial cyber-espionage, Beijing’s adversarial activities continue unabated causing significant losses of technological data. The focus in Sino-US relations for 2016 among cybersecurity experts lies in the realms of attribution, sanctions, and norms. All the while, Russia lurks in the corner, readying its arsenal for potential cyberattacks of its own.

If you enjoyed this article, please check out our other articles on CyberNow