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US justice department charges Chinese with hacking US justice department charges Chinese with hacking
(35 minutes later)
The US has charged five Chinese military members with hacking into private-sector companies, in a first cyber-espionage case of its kind. The US has charged five Chinese army officers with hacking into private-sector companies to gain a competitive advantage, in the first cyber-espionage case of its kind.
Attorney General Eric Holder is to give details of the charges against the hackers accused of breaking into US companies to gain trade secrets. Attorney General Eric Holder said the alleged breaches were "significant" and demanded "an aggressive response".
The US and China have previously sparred over cyber attacks, with the US accusing China of being behind attacks on companies and US government targets. US prosecutors say the officers stole trade secrets and internal documents from six US organisations.
China says it faces similar attacks. The US and China have previously sparred over cyber attacks.
Among the alleged victims were the United States Steel Corporation, Alcoa Inc, Allegheny Technologies, and a labour union, Reuters reported. In Washington on Monday, Mr Holder said the hacking charges laid against the Chinese nationals were the first against "known state actors".
Last year, cyber-defence company Mandiant published a report on a Chinese military unit the firm said was behind the vast majority of significant attacks on American federal agencies and companies. He identified the alleged victims as Westinghouse Electric, US Steel, Alcoa Inc, Allegheny Technologies, Solar World and the US Steelworkers Union,
John Carlin, head of the justice department's national security division, said, "for the first time we are exposing the faces and names behind the keyboards in Shanghai that... steal secrets from American companies."
In March, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon planned to more than triple its cyber-security capabilities in the next few years to defend against such internet attacks.In March, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Pentagon planned to more than triple its cyber-security capabilities in the next few years to defend against such internet attacks.
Last year, cyber-defence company Mandiant published a report on a Chinese military unit the firm said was behind the vast majority of significant attacks on American federal agencies and companies.
US President Barack Obama has called cyber attacks a "real threat" to US security and its economy.
China has denied the charges and says it faces similar attacks.