| While checking out my twitter account I came across | | | | created and the subject line of correspondence, not |
| two very interesting pieces of news related to | | | | the message itself. |
| Google and its policy with China. | | | | Finally as part of the investigation, but independent of |
| Google launched its Google.cn in January of 2006. | | | | the attack, Google discovered that the accounts of |
| Google created its China branch due to pressures | | | | numerous U.S., Chinese and European based Gmail |
| from the Chinese government which wanted to | | | | users who are advocates of human rights in China |
| censor Google search results. Google's policy has | | | | appear to have been accessed by third parties. This |
| always been to never censor search engine results. | | | | access though was not due to a security flaw rather |
| However, as stated on the Google blog, it was | | | | these accounts were most likely accessed by |
| decided that: | | | | phishing scams or malware on the users' computer |
| "...the benefits of increased access to information for | | | | that collected the login information for the accounts. |
| people in China and a more open Internet | | | | Since these attacks Google has made serious |
| outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor | | | | infrastructure changes to prevent any future attacks. |
| some results. " | | | | Attacks through techniques such as phishing or using |
| Since then the climate in China has changed. | | | | malware are up to the end user to prevent. Use of a |
| In mid-December of 2009, Google noticed a rather | | | | good antivirus and anti-malware program is |
| sophisticated and targeted attack on their corporate | | | | recommend by Google. |
| infrastructure that originated from China. At first the | | | | What these attacks translated too is that Google will |
| attack appeared to be a security issue since it was | | | | no longer sit by and censor its search engine results |
| directed at Google and intellectual property was | | | | in China even if that means shutting down its China |
| stolen. However after further inquiries were made | | | | branch. Google stated that: |
| the attack turned out to be something quite differed. | | | | We have decided we are no longer willing to continue |
| Firstly, the attack was not just on Google. Part of | | | | censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the |
| the investigation discovered that twenty other | | | | next few weeks we will be discussing with the |
| companies, from a wide range of sectors namely | | | | Chinese government the basis on which we could |
| finance, technology, media chemical and internet | | | | operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if |
| sectors, had been similarly targeted. | | | | at all. We recognize that this may well mean having |
| The next issue was that the evidence gathered | | | | to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in |
| points to the primary purpose of the attackers being | | | | China. |
| the access of Gmail accounts of Chinese human | | | | Unfortunately the only people who will suffer from |
| rights activist. However, Google's evidence indicates | | | | this are the Chinese people. While Google seems to |
| that the attackers were not successful in carrying | | | | be firm in its decision the only hope for Google in |
| out this attack and were only able to gather | | | | China lies with what Chinese Government and |
| summary information on the accounts. This | | | | whether or not it will allow uncensored searches. |
| information includes the date the account was | | | | |