14 DAY TRIAL // Increasing the pace in domestic development of software is at the top of the list of China’s goals as far as building a strong base for information security is concerned.
Cyber-security is an important aspect nowadays that should be taken into consideration very seriously, as cyber espionage tactics can glean sensitive information in different critical sectors of a country faster and oftentimes more easily than using traditional spying methods.
Reuters reports that the official People's Liberation Army Daily said that “information security must be considered an underlying project in military battle preparedness.”
Chinese officials see the world cyber-security scene dominated by the Western powers, and want to change the landscape.
Paving the way to domestic software development started some time ago
Among the measures taken to reduce Western countries’ reach in their space, was limiting the use of foreign security software for national security and public interests.
This happened at the beginning of August and one of the steps was banning the use of Symantec and Kaspersky products in agencies funded by the central government.
Espionage campaigns that have been traced to be related to the Chinese People's Liberation Army are not uncommon for the security industry experts. However, what the statement from the Chinese officials suggests is a weakness in defending against cyber-attacks from state actors.
Chinese are not that good at hacking
China has been accused of orchestrating numerous cyber-attacks against the US, the last time no later than Sunday, when, during an interview, FBI director James Comey nominated it as the number one cyber-adversary.
From what he said, the Chinese are unskilled at the art of penetrating computer networks without leaving traces or triggering alarms. The director said they were highly conspicuous, likening them to “a drunk burglar.”
“They're kicking in the front door, knocking over the vase, while they're walking out with your television set. They're just prolific. Their strategy seems to be: We'll just be everywhere all the time. And there's no way they can stop us,” Comey said in the interview.
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the United States to refrain from making things up because “Chinese laws forbid hacking or any other behavior harmful to cyber security, and it is an undoubted fact that the Chinese government resolutely cracks down on crimes,” spokesman Hong Lei for the ministry said on Thursday.
“Again, we urge the U.S. side to drop its wrongful fabrication of stories and deliberate mudslinging toward China, as well as stop its large-scale, systematic cyber attacks on other countries,” added the Chinese spokesman.