cyber-espionage

In a report it recently released, computer security company McAfee revealed a series of high-level cyber attacks against computer systems of various government agencies, international organizations and global companies from 2006 to 2010.

Dubbed as Operation Shady RAT (Remote Access Tool), the high-level hacking campaign has allegedly infiltrated and robbed vasts amounts of information from databases of 72 institutions in 14 countries, including the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee and the ASEAN.

But what’s causing even more stir is McAfee’s statement that a state actor could be behind these attacks. Many netizens are quick to point to China as the culprit, speculating of the latter’s cyber-espionage activities and of a possible ‘cyber war’ in our midst.

Our government websites have recently been defaced. If they could easily be vulnerable to “simpler” attacks such as defacement, then what more to high-level campaigns such as Operation Shady RAT?

- Ixara Maroto, 8th post