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China has been implicated in a global online spying network which infected some 1,300 government computers from over a hundred nations; the network, dubbed “GhostNet”, stole industrial and commercial secrets but also targeted Tibet and Taiwan.

The computers compromised included those from a variety of embassies and ministries the world over.

The infiltration appears to have been perpetrated by way of the same malware technology used to orchestrate similar crimes, such as the creation of botnets for Distributed Denial of Service Attacks.

The network was uncovered by the investigations of the Information Warfare Monitor, a group which analyses the latest events in state hacking; their investigation lasted 10 months and was prompted by a request from the Dalai Lama’s staff to check their computers.

Reportedly, ministries in Iran, Bangladesh, Latvia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Barbados and Bhutan had their computers compromised, whilst embassies belonging to India, South Korea, Indonesia, Romania, Cyprus, Malta, Thailand, Taiwan, Portugal, Germany and Pakistan were also affected.

The intrusions and information gathering apparently targeted predominantly Asian governments, with much of the activity amounting to “industrial espionage”, but much attention appears to have been directed towards Tibetan groups.

The IWM is concerned that this information in particular constitutes “actionable intelligence for use by the police and security services of a repressive state, with potentially fatal consequences for those exposed.”

Via the BBC.

Certainly this brings a whole new meaning to the term “spyware”…


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    Comment by life_is_happy@loop.com
    02:32 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    What a shocking tale. As if it hasn't already been done by 27 countries before.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:10 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    China stole the idea of stealing :o

    Comment by fabian
    07:28 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yeah, I'm sure the CIA will sue them for copyright infringement. :D

    Comment by yosemitesam
    08:45 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    No, you mean the NSA, plus its pretty obvious the american government has the monoply on spying on American citizens. Gotta love that Patriot Act

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:49 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    no more talk, just finish China, and we all get peace.
    As a Chinese, I think this is the best way to get the pure SankakuComplex back.
    Very soon there will be a special channel named as China’s shit.
    Come on , everybody should take ur ‘gun’ to shoot China. Then u will get ride of cheap damm poor products, Endless internet attack, the news that u lost ur job because they find replacement in China.
    Make sure not only shoot down the gov, bu also the Chinese. Otherwise u will get 1/3 of the whole propulation of the world. They will eat ur food, take ur air and shit in ur place.
    Also don’t forget to use all ur money to buy the gold, because the US doller will become a piece of shit itself after the China has gone.
    God bless all but no Chinese.

    Avatar of drastikhate
    Comment by Dee
    23:38 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    2/10 for trolling & 7/10 for racial stereotyping and abuse

    tsk tsk

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:56 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    oh, one more thing. Why the China gov didn't block here? Why it still let the Chinese people give Artefact more hit to earn money? So damm stupid.
    once again, die~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chinese.

    Comment by GhostShell
    07:40 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yes, True, but what world will do? Start a war lol? (even my toilet paper is made in china)

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:23 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    don't forget you precious PC >_>

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:50 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    sorry, but PC parts are less common "Made in China" anymore. it's more of "Made in Taiwan" and a few other countrys

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:01 06/10/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    War? lol... China would own the surrounding countries the way things are going these days.

    Avatar of aarond12
    Comment by Aaron
    09:44 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Not fucking surprising given the fact that the United States' director of IT for Homeland Security was an ex-Microsoft employee. Why they continue to use an insecure operating system for its day-to-day operations is beyond me. This should be a wake up call for them. Use Linux. Use Mac. Use anything but Microsoft.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:54 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'd use linux if only it weren't so complicated and so hard to use/understand. I'd use macs if only they didn't suck sweaty monkey balls.

    Avatar of atanok
    Comment by atanok
    10:22 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    LOL Windows
    u cant hack or nothin, I got norton!
    DCC SEND startkeylogger 0 0 0
    * World has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)

    Comment by H
    17:56 08/08/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >I’d use linux if only it weren’t so complicated

    Get Ubuntu. It is easy as bukkake.

    Comment by rkk145
    02:35 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    whats with china these days?

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:09 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They're trying to get shit done before they collapse. You know, sorta like a bucket list.

    Comment by Amak
    07:35 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Seems more like preparations for something big...

    Comment by OigoMiEggo
    07:40 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And suddenly, SCUD Missiles! over 9 trillion of them!

    Comment by Zacharov
    08:34 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    More like: Suddenly! Hydrogen bombs for everyone!

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:27 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Gundam Shenlong.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:44 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I loled

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:05 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I rofled

    Avatar of Aoshi_88
    Comment by Aoshi
    17:56 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I roflold

    Avatar of Kageryu
    Comment by Kageryu
    20:32 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Someone seriously needs to backhand China across the face.

    Seriously.

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:09 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    C-C-C-C-Combo-Breakeeer!!!!

    Comment by Anonymous
    23:45 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    How do you know they're gonna collapse? Just because they're communist? They're not gonna collapse just because they're communist or just because the USSR did if that's what you're thinking. Things aren't that simple you idiot.

    Comment by nicute
    02:40 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And after a few days of gathering data,

    The RoC will mass reproduce "Tesla tanks"
    and "Kirov airships" thus starting the World war 3
    (Or 4)

    0_o Scarrryyyy!

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:00 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Please do not refer to mainland China as "RoC". "RoC"/"Republic of China" is commonly used to refer to "Taiwan", whereas "PRC"/"People's Republic of China" is used to refer to.. well, the "communist mainland China".

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:06 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Oh noes, I smell a taiwanese...

    Comment by Anonymous
    16:33 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    More like Taiwan is part of China anyway, am i rite? I THINK SO.

    Comment by Anonymous
    21:57 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    taht Taiwanese is a very cool guy, eh isn't part of China and doesn;t afraid of anything

    Avatar of drastikhate
    Comment by Dee
    23:29 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    really? why has the PPL chosen a communist government this time?

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:52 02/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Because the previous one was inept. More of going with that one didn't work than what this one leans to.

    Comment by MooMoo
    02:44 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    China is starting shit np
    Inb4 war

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:04 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Naw, just another big propaganda and Artefact felt right into it that's all. Anyone with a brian can see it as propaganda article and won't bothing posting it on their site/blogs.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:05 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i has no brian. i is sad.

    Avatar of cloudduel_13
    Comment by Eloy
    11:15 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    where can I get a brian.

    Avatar of MechaTama31
    Comment by MechaTama31
    20:45 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I think there is a brian at my work, but I don't know how you're gonna get him.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:13 31/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I have a brian, but I don't think you want him.

    Comment by kawakaze
    02:48 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I hope that these Chinese will not have deleted the lolis of the cristina´s laptop...

    Avatar of XerosXIII
    Comment by XIII
    02:48 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    In China: "with great power come great conspiracy"

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:50 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yeah right, Chinese are the first ones who realize that spy on the internet is an awesome idea.The guys who invented computer, internet and virus didn't even imagine about it.

    Since when "anti-china" news generate more mouse clicking than Anime news?

    Avatar of Narcissist
    Comment by Narcissist
    03:12 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Because the civilized world does not like China, ok?

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:49 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Because lolicon weaboos who fap all day in their parents' basements and don't contribute shit to civilization worship everything Japan-related and therefore do not like China, ok?

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:24 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ^This

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:29 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Nice.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:44 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    He got you there.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:07 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Seconded.

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:43 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    why is there so much anti-china these days?

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:28 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I can see how civilized but ignorant you are

    Comment by life_is_happy@loop.com
    03:14 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >> Since when “anti-china” news generate more mouse clicking than Anime news?

    Since the time wwwwwww gave its way to serious business into weabooness. We may not wash everyday, but at least we have a political agenda!, you know.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:52 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The use of spyware in real-life politics is nothing new, but still alarming all the same.
    It is very easy to fall into the trap that is to accuse the Chinese government of doing it. They could always blame it on some "patriotic hackers" and say they have nothing to do with it whatsoever.

    Comment by life_is_happy@loop.com
    04:57 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    We are discussing about the way a loli channel wwwwwwwwwebsite became a china slander anthem broadcast box.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:05 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Which just proves that lots of people have already fallen to that trap. The Chinese government is denying all responsibility (as usual). But for all we know, it could be some hackers from an unknown party.
    Sankakucomplex is full of racist retards? Some news.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:41 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    No one here is racist, we are only being critical of the PRC's totalitarianism and economic system. We may joke, but we harbor no hate against the Chinese or the communists.

    Comment by Anon
    07:07 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I wouldn't say Sankaku Complex is a China slander broadcast box, it's a site that compromised it's mission statement in order to get more hits/visitors through unrelated (to anime) articles, some of which include China slandering.

    Comment by Anon
    07:34 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Actually, I should say libel instead of slander, since it's in written form.

    Comment by Infernal
    07:52 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I wouldn't say this site is using propaganda. Well not directly anyway. If anything the propaganda is created through ignorant Commenter’s, who are desperate for attention further creating a 'gang' mind set and further throwing fuel into the fire. In a way the 'Broken Window' effect of Sociology. You could say this is the 'Moral Panic' of Sankaku Complex as well haha, asshats over-exaggerating (some for lulz with no real intention of being prejudice) things, too stupid to realize how hypocritical they are or how vague/broad their own comments are sometimes, or even because they don't do their research and thus make quick but stupid generalizations.

    Think of it this way, Artefact sells us fireworks (articles) to people (us). The sane ones fire them into the sky, observe it and move on. While the childish retards get all giddy over one type of firework, end up throwing them at each other and all over the place, while blowing their own hands off because of their own ignorance. Now because there are usually plenty of retards who buy the fireworks and are obsessed with a particuar one when available, of course Artefact is going to sell them, since he simply gains from it. Kind of like fish lured by their favorite bait while the internet being the sea and the fisher reaps from it. The more fish he reaps in using one bait, why not carry on using the same bait? Of course something different is good from time to time, if not you could saturate the target. Another analogy; Artefact is the shepherd and the idiots are the sheep.

    TBH it's no different than the whole 'Terrorist' thing a couple years back. Anything with brown people instantly became a bullying session of uneducated morons. Not surprisingly most of them are 'Anonymous' who are too scared to openly say such things in reality because they know they'll get lynched by the majority of people (depending where you are), so what better way to do it than through the net. As I explained in a previous comment how racism can stem from fear, or low self-esteem. Some however are just trolls. Well that's my take on it :P

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:47 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Everything said was exactly true.

    Avatar of Kitsune9Tails
    Comment by Kitsune9Tails
    05:13 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Lemme see. I count 16 recent news items, 3 of which are remotely about China (1 of which is about N. Korea selling sex slaves TO China).

    Wow, imagine 18% of the news on this site being about the country with half the world's population (and an aggressive military dictatorship in all but name that's within disturbingly close proximity to the main country of interest to this site).

    Blows your mind away, doesn't it?

    Comment by life_is_happy@loop.com
    05:45 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    China’s “GhostNet” Steals Secrets from 100 Countries

    North Korean Sex Slaves Sell for $450 [ subtle china slander ]

    Executions Attract Thousands

    China Terrified of Online Gaming

    China Blocks YouTube

    World’s Filthiest ATM

    Ladies Hounded From Hanami for Wearing Kimono

    Shameless Mother

    China Pirates Train

    Woman Bathes Family with Breast Milk

    Yaoi Stamps

    Ultimate Net Café

    In the single first page of the articles tagged with "China". I'll let you digress on the rate of the funny articles against the serious wwwwwwwwusiness.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:22 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Mebby it is because China is Evil...

    Avatar of Ershin
    Comment by Ershin
    07:42 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The term "slander" refers to statements that are untrue. The articles may contain some editorial hyperbole (MOST Sankaku articles do; it makes them entertaining to read), but they are based in fact.

    If China does things as a country that cast it in a negative light, that's nobody's fault but China. Sankaku Complex is not somehow in the wrong for reporting on stories that users find interesting. The only complaint I've seen so far that is particularly valid is that Sankaku has expanded beyond its original mission statement. A fact which I don't think most users are really that upset about.

    Comment by Zacharov
    08:38 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I won't consider China as evil, I say China is paranoid, just like the USSR back when it was under Stalin (thank the Emperor for Gorbachev). They are paranoid of outside attacks (though not to the extent of North Korea, who are still convinced that the Korean War isn't over yet) and the internet fueling anti-Chinese sentiment or 'enlighten' the masses that China isn't really as cranked out as they claim to the people. Hence all the wackiness we are seeing now. And the People of China's love for copying others made it all so much better.

    Well, at least it is entertaining.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:25 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    "If China does things as a country that cast it in a negative light, that’s nobody’s fault but China. "

    Some of the reports about China are based on fact, but the person who wrote the report makes it sounds like China is the only country that has these kind of problem which is not true at all.

    Comment by BuggyBY
    11:13 30/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >Some of the reports about China are based on fact, but the person who wrote the report makes it sounds like China is the only country that has these kind of problem which is not true at all.

    Of course a few other countries have some similar problems to those in China the posts address. The reason why Artefact does not prefix each and every article with such a disclaimer is that he assumes that readers of this site are not the kind of tabloid-reading mouthbreathers who think that just because examples from other areas of the world are not mentioned, they do not exist.





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