China spies accused of cyberattacks
BEIJING: Cyberspies working for or on behalf of China’s government have broadened attacks against official and corporate targets in Vietnam at a time of raised tension over the South China Sea, cybersecurity company FireEye said.
FireEye said the attacks happened in recent weeks and it had traced them back to suspected Chinese cyberspies based partly on the fact that a Chinese group it had identified previously had used the same infrastructure before.
“Where China has often focused on the government before, this shows they are really hitting the full commercial sector potentially in Vietnam and trying to gather a broad base of information there,” said Ben Read, who heads FireEye’s cyberespionage team.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China opposed all forms of illegal internet activities or stealing of secrets and also opposed any accusations from any side against any country on the issue without cast-iron proof.
Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said cyberattacks should be severely punished in accordance with the law and that it was important for countries to secure their networks.
Vietnam denies allowing cyberespionage although it has also been accused by FireEye of carrying out attacks.
Tension between China and neighbouring Vietnam is at its highest in three years over the disputed South China Sea, where Vietnam has emerged as the most vocal opponents of Beijing’s extensive claims.
Vietnam suspended oil drilling in offshore waters that are also claimed by China in July under pressure from Beijing.
China has appeared uneasy at Vietnam’s efforts to rally Southeast Asian countries over the South China Sea as well as at its growing defence relationships with the US, Japan and India.
FireEye said the attacks in Vietnam involved sending users documents in Vietnamese which appeared to be requests for financial information. A broad range of companies appeared to have been targeted, including financial institutions, it said without giving specific details.