Chinese hackers breach key US weapons designs

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Chinese hackers have compromised the designs of some of America’s most sensitive and advanced weapons systems—including vital parts of the nation’s missile defenses, fighter aircraft and warships—the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The Post cited a report prepared for the Pentagon by the Defense Science Board, which groups government officials and private sector experts. The document, “Resilient Military Systems and the Advanced Cyber Threat,” paints a grim picture of cyber-espionage emanating from China only 10 days before President Barack Obama meets in California with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time.

“I’m sure it will be a topic of discussion,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

Beijing, riding a wave of robust economic growth, has been building up its military—and while the report does not accuse China's government of stealing the designs, such intrusions could help the world's most populous country enhance its armed forces.

The Post published the list of compromised systems here. It includes drone video systems, “directed energy” (a category that includes lasers and the like) and advanced Patriot missile systems. Also compromised were designs for the F/A 18 fighter jet, V-22 Osprey, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and the Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship meant to prowl the coasts. The list also includes the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) designed to shoot down ballistic missiles.

The report coincided with an Australian news report that Chinese hackers illegally accessed the designs for the new top secret headquarters of Australia's intelligence service, including communications cable layouts, server locations and security systems.

American officials have complained publicly and privately about Chinese cyber-espionage. Obama vowed in his State of the Union Address to take steps to protect the U.S. government and American businesses from such attacks—though he did not specifically name China, or Chinese hackers, as the main culprits.

But National Security Adviser Tom Donilon took aim at China in a blunt speech in March to the Asia Society in New York.

"From the president on down, this has become a key point of concern and discussion with China at all levels of our governments—and it will continue to be," Donilon warned.

 

Read more at:  news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/chinese-hackers-breach-key-u-weapons-designs-133849940.html

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I really like the part of the article:

The White House declined to comment specifically on the report. But a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, Laura Lucas, noted that in general "cybersecurity is one of this administration's top priorities, and we have long said that we are concerned about cyber intrusions emanating from China."

"What we have been seeking from China is for it to investigate our concerns and to start a dialogue with us on cyber issues," Lucas said, adding that the United States is "pleased" that China agreed last month to start a new working group to discuss the issue.

I'm not sure "pleased" that China agreed to discuss the issue is the right phrase!

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I did like one of the comments that basically said something along the lines of why would China put money into research when all they have to do is steal and hack into technology and nobody seems to want to do anything about it.

Another one made a joke about when this administration said they were going to be transparent, we didn't think they meant in this way.  While I don't blame the administration for the hacking issue, I still thought the comment was witty....