Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident — albeit a significant one — was something quite different.
First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses — including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors — have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities.
Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves.
Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of US-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users’ computers.
We have already used information gained from this attack to make infrastructure and architectural improvements that enhance security for Google and for our users. In terms of individual users, we would advise people to deploy reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on their computers, to install patches for their operating systems and to update their web browsers. Always be cautious when clicking on links appearing in instant messages and emails, or when asked to share personal information like passwords online. You can read more here about our cyber-security recommendations. People interested wanting to learn more about these kinds of attacks, can read this U.S. government report, Nart Villeneuve’s blog and this presentation on the GhostNet spying incident.
We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech. In the last two decades, China’s economic reform programs and its citizens’ entrepreneurial flair have lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. Indeed, this great nation is at the heart of much economic progress and development in the world today.
We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that “we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China.”
These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered — combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web — have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.
The decision to review our business operations in China has been incredibly hard, and we know that it will have potentially far-reaching consequences. We want to make clear that this move was driven by our executives in the United States, without the knowledge or involvement of our employees in China who have worked incredibly hard to make Google.cn the success it is today. We are committed to working responsibly to resolve the very difficult issues raised.
Read also: ZDNet – Google on the defensive
Google… you are on the right path.
Cheers!
It’s worth noting that:
1) The attack was an attempt to hack into Google’s source code repositories, presumably to discover loopholes, backdoors and other potential methods of attack against Google services and their users. Or it could have ended up in the hands of Baidu, as corporate espionage.
2) The other companies attacked include Adobe. So be careful about opening pdfs till it’s patched.
Google professes a “Do No Evil” stance but it has not maintained that very well in relation to China. Being a public company, its ability to balance business and moral objectives positively should be encouraged and be used to benchmark a new corporate ethos.
Unfortunately, it is self-righteousness.
I dare it to report on human rights abuse in Singapore and our Gov will surely sue it until it is bankrupted.
Imagine if Google decides to ban itself in Singapore and then the Sg gov sue it for libel..it be so funny. But that wont happened because Google sg is ruled by pro-pap people.
The USA through tools such as Google is trying to make China ungovernable. The US interferes in XinJiang, Tibet, Taiwan etc. Now through cyberspace they hope to bring about a change of Government which is de facto Revolution.
In any upheaval, who suffers? It is the ordinary Chinese people. I find it very strange that the West who proclaims to be Christians has such evil intention. The attacks on China is incessant.
Would the US and Western countries prefers to have more Haiti around?
Human rights, Democracy, Socialism, Freedom of Speech etc USA is practising socialism by bailing out the banks and Health Care. USA is not democratic when it does not allow countries like China to find its own solution.
4) Oh Holy on January 15th, 2010 10.21 am
Google does not do news reporting. Chinese laws demand Google to block out dissenting websites in its search engine results.
Singapore websites also kenna a lot of persistent , targeted DDOS attacks by many without backsides and spines . Snippers, Assassins, Traitors of the Netizens, whatever you call these low life worse than animals lifeforms. In times of war, what would these resort to in order to preserve their cheap worthless lives? Would they sabo their fellow comrades for some peanuts? serving as intelligence for the invaders? Self serving doubleheaded snakes? pros and pimps mercenaries fully incapable of earning an honest living?
If these bums attack Google or Facebook, singapore economy may be badly hit.
Of course, this is just theoretical discussion. a scenario. These bums do not have what it takes to attack a bigger boy. They only pick on small boys. I call these bums girl tomboys. wahahaha!
Google has Integrity! Pull out from china shows Google has Goo Qi.
Jia You!
why did the TOC just reprint what was written on Google’s blog? an excerpt + link would have sufficed
It comes as no surprises !
My friends were saying who is so generous as to provide free email account and LOTS OF FREE STORAGE SPACES !
Our local ISP even requested for yearly subscription fees !
So the US government came into the scene !
Now we know, just like in the James Bond movies !