Chinese Hackers Attack Computer Databases Says NY Times

The Associated Press reported Thursday that The New York Times says that Chinese computer hackers infiltrated the newspaper’s computer databases in an attempt to reach sensitive files connected to their investigation of the family of Premier Wen Jiabao.

Upon further investigation it seems that the Chinese had been gaining access to NY Times’ computers as far back as the middle of September 2012. The hackers were also able to breach the security of fifty-three NY Times’ employee’s personal computers by stealing each of their passwords.

The only reason this advanced hacking was discovered is because AT&T, the Times’ network service provider, noticed suspicious patterns indicative of hacking. It is supposed that the Chinese hackers disguised themselves using university computers in the U.S. and China to install malware sophisticated enough to get into the NY Times networks.

The investigation into the prominent Wen family coincided with the beginning of the online attacks. The New York Times was investigating how this powerful Chinese family amassed their wealth (which numbers in the billions) and posted an online report about them October 25, 2012.

more here: TheIntelHub