From Google's blog:
Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident--albeit a significant one--was something quite different.
First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses--including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors--have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities.
Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves.
Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users' computers. Read more
Google's fix:
We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.
Google, which launched in China Jan. 2006, says it may leave China. Hillary Clinton calls the allegations against China serious. From the state Department:
"We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy," she said. "I will be giving an address next week on the centrality of internet freedom in the 21st century, and we will have further comment on this matter as the facts become clear."
Robert Gibbs, who answered questions at the daily press briefing:
The White House said Wednesday that it backs the "right to a free Internet" and confirmed it has held talks with Google, which has threatened to quit China over censorship demands.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he would not go into details about the discussions with Google, which announced on Tuesday it would no longer filter search results from China on its Web search engine.
"We have had conversations and discussions with them about what they have talked about yesterday," Gibbs told reporters here. "I don't want to get much further afield than that."
"The president and this administration have beliefs about the freedom of the Internet," Gibbs added, noting that President Barack Obama had expressed them in China last year. AFP
