An international cyber spy operation that targeted
government computers has been exposed by a Canadian security
research group.
The China-based operation, dubbed GhostNet, infiltrated over
1,000 computers in more than 100 countries, according to the
BBC.
The spy operation targeted politicians, diplomats and
journalists using spyware installed on computers to gain access to
sensitive information since 2007.
The operation continues to invade and monitor more than a dozen
new computers a week, according to the
New York Times.
Targets in the UK included the Indian High Commission,
Associated Press news agency and International Chamber of Shipping,
according to other media reports.
High profile targets included Tibetan spiritual leader, the
Dalai Lama, whose office asked Canada's Information Warfare Monitor
(IWM) research group to check their computer systems.
The IWM has linked to operation to locations in China, but said
there is no conclusive evidence that the Chinese government is
involved. Beijing authorities have also denied involvement.
The IWM researchers said the spying operation exposed basic
shortcomings in the legal structure of cyberspace.