Worries of Cyberattacks on U.S. Are Aired

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Date: 2002-04-28 19:30:39

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Worries of Cyberattacks on U.S. Are Aired
Chinese Military Is Looking for Ways; Students Seen Gearing Up for=
 Disruptions 

By Bill Miller
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 26, 2002; Page A26 

U.S. officials warned yesterday that the Chinese military may be searching=
 for ways to attack defense and civilian computer networks in the United=
 States and Taiwan. But they said intelligence analysts have concluded that=
 China so far lacks the ability to cause much disruption.

The assessment was included in a classified report recently issued by the=
 CIA that also warned of a more immediate cybersecurity concern involving=
 Chinese students.

Although the Chinese military cannot yet disrupt key computer systems, "you=
 have to be mindful of it and concerned they might have that goal," a U.S.=
 government official said yesterday. "The Chinese themselves have=
 acknowledged, in their own press, their interest."

But Chinese students could be planning a series of cyberattacks against=
 U.S. government and business Web sites during the next several weeks; it's=
 similar to widespread hacking that took place a year ago after the=
 collision of a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft and a Chinese jet fighter=
 over the South China Sea, said the official, who asked not to be=
 identified. 

There is no evidence tying those "harassment" activities to the Chinese=
 military, the official said.

In the past, students have used Chinese servers to spread computer viruses=
 and deface or overwhelm U.S. Web sites, the official said. 

With spring break coming up, and the passing of the anniversary of the air=
 collision, authorities believe Chinese students are gearing up for a wave=
 of attacks to spread political messages, the official said.

The CIA recently issued the classified report warning government=
 policymakers, the Defense Department, U.S. diplomats and law enforcement=
 agencies to watch for Chinese student hackers trying to spread computer=
 viruses or deface Internet sites.

The same report included an assessment that the Chinese government lacks=
 the ability to "carry out its intended goal" of disrupting Taiwanese=
 computer systems or U.S. military logistics, according to a source=
 familiar with the findings. The report and its contents were first made=
 public yesterday by the Los Angeles Times.

A CIA spokesman said the agency does not comment on intelligence reports.=
 Officials at the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not return telephone=
 messages seeking comment.

Toshi Yoshihara, a research fellow with the Institute for Foreign Policy=
 Analysts, said the Chinese military views cyberwarfare as "a way to=
 overcome America's military superiority" and a means to keep the United=
 States from interfering in any conflict with Taiwan, or to at least=
 disrupt U.S. military communications in the early stages of a battle.

Yoshihara, a specialist on China's military and China-Taiwan relations,=
 said that developing the ability to disable military and civilian computer=
 systems is important to the Chinese because it fits a "strategy of winning=
 without fighting, at minimal cost." He said cyberattacks carry with them=
 the element of surprise and can alarm the public.

Although Pentagon and CIA officials and scholars have been monitoring=
 developments for years, Yoshihara said it is difficult to gauge China's=
 technological capacity because of its military secrecy.

"We frankly know very little about what the Chinese have been developing in=
 recent years," he said. "We should remain vigilant."

 www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50900-2002Apr25.html

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