| Google was recently attacked and the extent of the | | | | the attack happened during December 15 and |
| cyber attack included finance and technology | | | | January 4. During these periods, company security |
| companies, defense contractors, and even human | | | | operations were very weak. Furthermore, the level |
| rights activists. The cyber attack led to the falling out | | | | of knowledge and sophistication demonstrated by |
| of the Internet giant and China. The cyber attacks | | | | the hacks is comparable to that of experts at a |
| turned out to be ploy to steal secrets from dozens | | | | nation-state level. |
| of companies. The attack was initiated in a notably | | | | In another statement, Google revealed the hackers |
| sophisticated manner. Security investigators for the | | | | from China stole intellectual property and gained |
| cyber attack case indicated that the extent and | | | | access to the Gmail accounts of different human |
| range of the attacks, which consequently also aimed | | | | rights advocates. Companies that were also targeted |
| for computers of Chinese dissidents, reveal that they | | | | by the cyber attack still refused to reveal any |
| were seemingly initiated by the Chinese state. | | | | information or involvement in the said incident. Most |
| Some of the victims in the cyber attack include the | | | | companies fear that their reputations will get tainted |
| chemicals giant Dow Chemical and the defense | | | | and that it will only encourage similar acts. |
| company Northrop Grumman. Both companies | | | | Initially, the hackers sent e-mails and instant |
| refused releasing any statement about the matter. | | | | messages that tempted and lured company |
| Aside from these two companies, Adobe as well as | | | | personnel. Once the link is clicked or the website is |
| Juniper Networks was also included in the target list. | | | | visited, that's when the hackers started their attack. |
| Evidence shows that the hackers took advantage of | | | | The Malware downloaded in the process is capable of |
| Microsoft's Internet Explorer to hack into systems. | | | | installing a backdoor. This gave the hackers ideas on |
| Supposedly the web browser has unknown | | | | how to initiate the attack. |
| vulnerability. Web browser software can take over | | | | In order to deceive investigators, hacks sent |
| the individual computers within the companies. Once | | | | extracted information to different servers in Taiwan |
| the hackers gained remote access to the personal | | | | and Illinois. Investigation also revealed that servers |
| computers, they tried to download computer code, | | | | maintained by a San Antonio web-hosting company |
| intellectual property data as well as other company | | | | were used to transmit stolen data. China amidst all |
| secrets. | | | | the accusations denied all claims. |
| McAfee, the internet security company, declared that | | | | |