China�s cyber hackers target UK firms





Last year, cyber attacks cost Britain 27 billion pounds and the global hub for targeted attacks is China.



An estimated 1.6 billion attacks are launched from the country each month, Sky News reports.



Beijing says it is cracking down on hackers. Last year authorities reportedly made several hundred arrests and closed one online hacking school that was said to have 180,000 members.



Chinese hackers have been accused of breaching computer systems of the Pentagon, the French and German governments, and several Whitehall departments.



In 2009, investigators discovered that Ghostnet, the largest ever network of cyber attacks, could be traced back to China.



The operation's command and control had gained real time control over 1,200 computers belonging to foreign embassies, international organizations, and media groups in more than 100 countries.



However, according to experts, the biggest threat posed by attacks traced to China is the loss of industrial secrets.



It was also recently revealed that investment bank Morgan Stanley was hit by a six-month attack emanating from China.



According to experts, Britain's high-tech industries are particularly vulnerable.



"Britain spends �25bn a year in these areas," says British cyber security expert Will Gilpin.



"It has a lot of specialist knowledge, abilities and plans available in its computers which are tremendously appealing to a country like China that wants to short circuit and leapfrog the Western countries in developing their economy," Gilpin added.





Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com

Beijing, Apr 19: Cyber hackers based in China are targeting highly guarded computer systems of western governments and corporations.