Chinese Hackers Linked to Huge Cyber Attacks

Chinese hackers are now being linked to the biggest espionage attacks in history.  Symantec revealed this group is the most technically advanced of several dozen thought to be running  cyber espionage enterprises out of China.

Symantec sells software and other services to protect corporate and user computer systems from cyber attacks, and is also used by hackers in Operation Aurora.



http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/chinese-hackers-linked-to-huge-cyber-attacks/


Symantec has a 28 page report describing this “Hidden Lynx,” as a professional organization which staffs between 50 to 100 people all geared towards stealing information and breaching networks.

The company stated their researchers believe Hidden Lynx might be responsible for the 2009 Operation Aurora attacks.  The most well-known cyber espionage company uncovered to date.

Operation Aurora is known for attacks on Google’s Gmail, Adobe Systems, and 30 other high profile companies.

In January 2010, Google disclosed the attacks in which hackers tried to read Gmail communications of human rights activists and to access then change source code at targeted companies.

A Symantec researcher Liam O’Murchu said the company was not able to determine which people were behind Hidden Lynx or if it was linked to the Chinese government or not.

Although, there was a separate study released in February from Mandiant, a firm that follows Chinese hackers, saying that a secret unit of the Chinese military was engaged in the cyber espionage on the United States.

Symantic reports several attacks to Hidden Lynx, including a breach at a cybersecurity firm Bit9 and follow-on attacks at three Bit9 clients.

Hidden Lynx is also connected to a campaign dubbed Voho, which was spotted last year by EMC’s Corp RSA’s security company.  Voho targeted hundreds of organizations, financial services, technology departments, healthcare companies, and government agencies.

http://www.hyphenet.com/blog/chinese-hackers-linked-to-huge-cyber-attacks/

References:
Hackers for hire: Group in China linked to big cyber attacks – South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1312131/hackers-hire-group-china-linked-big-cyber-attacks
September 18, 2013
Google Hack Attack Was Ultra Sophisticated, New Details Show – WIRED
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/01/operation-aurora/
January 14, 2010