U.S. warns on Olympics computer security

Published: June 11, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Order reprints
WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are warning people traveling to China for the Summer Olympics that Chinese agents are likely to try to hack into unattended laptop computers.

A recent report from the Overseas Security Advisory Council, a panel of security experts from corporations and U.S. government agencies, said Chinese spies will target computers looking to steal secrets or to plant bugs that could infiltrate U.S. data networks, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Laptops need only be left unattended for moments for them to be bugged, Larry Wortzel, chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, told the newspaper, adding that foreigners who use Chinese Internet service providers while in Beijing for the Olympics are at risk of being monitored.

"There is a high likelihood -- virtually 100 percent -- that if an individual is of security, political, or business interest to Chinese … security services or high technology industries, their electronics can and will be tampered with or penetrated," Wortzel said.

USA Today said China's embassy didn't respond its requests for comment but noted the Chinese government has dismissed such espionage concerns in the past.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Obama arrives in Ghana (11 min)
Croatia leads U.S. 2-0 at Davis Cup tennis (31 min)
MLB: St. Louis 8, Chicago Cubs 3 (42 min)
Report: Bailout funds could help small biz
Werth named NL All-Star for Beltran
Home sales rise in Baltimore area
Lawsuit filed in cemetery desecration
fark
Photoshop these creepy earrings
Patronizing Tijuana hookers while on drugs may be unhealthy, according to Dr. N.S. Sherlock, of...
Defense lawyers request words like "polygamy,""cult" and "compound" not be used in their client's...
TSG Mugshot roundup: Twin billing
Barbie-Con visitors split on major issue: Are you allowed to open her box and play with it?
It's been 10 years since "The Blair Witch Project." Where were you when this crappy, one-joke, overhyped...