No room for complacency with data security in cyberattacks era

The Harbin Public Security Bureau in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province announced on Tuesday that three individuals — Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson, who are believed to be attached to the US National Security Agency — are wanted for their suspected role in launching cyberattacks against China during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin in February.

That the Chinese authorities could identify the suspects within two months speaks volumes about China's growing capability to defend itself in cyberspace.

The investigation attributed the cyberattacks to the NSA's Tailored Access Operations unit, a specialized division known for its sophisticated cyber espionage. To obscure their tracks, the attackers reportedly used proxy networks, purchasing IP addresses from multiple countries and leasing servers across Europe and Asia. The precision and scale of the operation left one in little doubt about the intent behind it.