US Intelligence Chief Says China Top Suspect in Government Hacks

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 26 June 2015 10:50 IST
U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper said on Thursday that China was the top suspect in the massive hacking of a U.S. government agency that compromised the personnel records of millions of Americans.

The comments from Clapper, the director of National Intelligence (DNI), were first reported in The Wall Street Journal and marked the first time the Obama administration has publicly accused Beijing of the hacking attacks on the Office of Personnel Management.

"You have to kind of salute the Chinese for what they did," given the difficulty of the intrusion, the Journal quoted Clapper as saying at a Washington intelligence conference.

In a statement, Clapper's office confirmed that he had identified China as a leading suspect, although it said the U.S. government investigation was ongoing.

Advertisement

U.S. officials have previously blamed the attacks on Chinese hackers, though not publicly. White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday declined to comment on any potential suspects.

Advertisement

OPM Director Katherine Archuleta told the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday that personnel data of 4.2 million current and former federal employees was compromised in one security breach and that another attack, targeting those applying for security clearances, had affected millions more.

Some media have reported that as many as 18 million Americans could have been affected.

Advertisement

Clapper's comments came a day after the conclusion of three days of high-level talks between China and the United States in Washington at which cyber-security figured prominently.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday there had been no U.S. "finger-pointing" during those meetings about cybertheft "and whether or not it was actioned by government, or whether it was hackers, or individuals the government has the ability to prosecute."

Advertisement

Kerry also said, however, the U.S. side had made "crystal clear" that cybertheft was not acceptable. He said the United States believed there was a need to work with China to develop a "code of conduct" on state behaviour in cyberspace and that China had agreed.

"It's something that we agreed needs to be addressed and hopefully it can be addressed soon," State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

White House spokesman Earnest cautioned against guessing at what response the United States might take against those responsible for the attacks. "If there is a response, it's probably not one we are likely to telegraph in advance," he said.

The Journal cited Clapper as saying the U.S. government and American companies would continue to be targets until policymakers addressed the "lack of deterrents."

Clapper said the absence of a U.S. threat to respond to hacking attacks meant Washington had to put its focus instead on defence, the newspaper reported.

China has dismissed as "irresponsible and unscientific" any suggestion that it was behind the hacking. China's top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, said after Wednesday's talks that the two countries should work together on cyber-security.

© Thomson Reuters 2015

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Best Diwali 2025 Wishes, Quotes, and Facebook Statuses to Share
  1. Mysterious Asteroid Impact Found in Australia, But the Crater is Missing
  2. Thanal Comes to OTT: Everything You Need to Know About This Tamil Action Thriller
  3. Madam Sengupta Is Now Streaming: Know Where to Watch This Bangla Crime Thriller
  4. Ryugu Samples Reveal Ancient Water Flow on Asteroid for a Billion Years
  5. Scientists Create Most Detailed Radio Map of Early Universe Using MWA
  6. Mayor of Kingstown Season 4 OTT Release: Know When, Where to Watch Jeremy Renner's Crime Drama
  7. Our Fault Is Streaming Now: Know All About This Gabriel Guevara and Nicole Wallace Starrer
  8. The Conjuring: Last Rites Is Now Streaming Online: Know Where to Watch the Latest Installment from the Horror Franchise
  9. Delhi Crime Season 3 OTT Release: Know When to Watch This Shefali Shah Thriller Series
  10. Vast Space to Launch Haven-1, the World’s First Private Space Station in 2026
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.