U.S. warns on Olympics computer security

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.