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Chinese Hackers Infiltrate the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
An unnamed group of Chinese hackers gained access to computers at the United States Chamber of Commerce at least early as November of 2009, and exactly what damage was incurred is still unknown, reports the Wall Street Journal.
"What was unusual about it was that this was clearly somebody very sophisticated, who knew exactly who we are and who targeted specific people and used sophisticated tools to try to gather intelligence," the Chamber's chief operating officer, David Chavern, told the Journal.
Although it is unclear exactly what information was actually gathered the group had access to everything stored on the Chamber’s computer systems, including information on three million members.
Although it is unlikely Chamber members would have shared valuable trade secrets with the Chamber, it is clear, Chamber officials told the Wall Street Journal, that that emails from fewer than 50 of its members had been compromised, including the names of companies and “key people” associated with the Chamber, trade-policy secrets, meeting notes, trip reports and schedules.
Chamber officials said investigators found evidence that hackers focused primarily on four Chamber employees working on Asia policy, and that six weeks of their email had been stolen.
The break in is being called one of the boldest known infiltrations of the now frequent attacks by Chinese hackers. The attack involved at least 300 internet addresses and was discreetly shut down in 2010 after the FBI informed the Chamber its defenses had been compromised.
People familiar with the investigation said that U.S. officials suspect the unnamed group is suspected of having ties to the Chinese government.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy told the Journal the allegations lacked proof and evidence and that politicizing the breach was irresponsible.
A Chamber spokesman confirmed the details of this story to Portfolio.com
Michael del Castillo is a freelance reporter for Portfolio.com.
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