This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/05/us-threatens-sanctions-federal-employees-hacking
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US threatens sanctions against culprit in hacking of federal employees' data | US threatens sanctions against culprit in hacking of federal employees' data |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The White House has threatened possible economic sanctions against whoever is found to be involved in the recent hacking of US government personnel records, as China responded angrily to unofficial reports that pointed the finger in its direction. | The White House has threatened possible economic sanctions against whoever is found to be involved in the recent hacking of US government personnel records, as China responded angrily to unofficial reports that pointed the finger in its direction. |
| Obama press secretary Josh Earnest refused to confirm off-the-record US claims of Chinese involvement, insisting at a press briefing on Friday that the FBI was still investigating who compromised the personal data of up to 4 million US government employees in the hack. | Obama press secretary Josh Earnest refused to confirm off-the-record US claims of Chinese involvement, insisting at a press briefing on Friday that the FBI was still investigating who compromised the personal data of up to 4 million US government employees in the hack. |
| Related: Cyberwar: hacking attacks between nations are difficult to prove | Related: Cyberwar: hacking attacks between nations are difficult to prove |
| But asked if the president would consider sanctions if the source was found to be an overseas government or company, Earnest stressed new legal authorities at the president’s disposal. | But asked if the president would consider sanctions if the source was found to be an overseas government or company, Earnest stressed new legal authorities at the president’s disposal. |
| “In April, the president, using his executive authority, signed an executive order giving the Treasury Department additional authority to use economic sanctions to punish or hold accountable those who are either responsible for a cyber intrusion or are benefiting from one,” he said. | “In April, the president, using his executive authority, signed an executive order giving the Treasury Department additional authority to use economic sanctions to punish or hold accountable those who are either responsible for a cyber intrusion or are benefiting from one,” he said. |
| US officials also revealed the administration has recently decided to accelerate the roll-out of the next generation of internal security software – known as Einstein 3 – amid concerns about the heightened risk from state-sponsored hackers. | US officials also revealed the administration has recently decided to accelerate the roll-out of the next generation of internal security software – known as Einstein 3 – amid concerns about the heightened risk from state-sponsored hackers. |
| News of the latest attack on the US Office of Personnel Management, which emerged on Thursday evening but was discovered in April, follows a similar scare at the Department of State, which also compromised some non-classified White House systems. | News of the latest attack on the US Office of Personnel Management, which emerged on Thursday evening but was discovered in April, follows a similar scare at the Department of State, which also compromised some non-classified White House systems. |
| That attack was attributed privately to the Russians, while a similar breach last year of Sony’s computer systems was blamed openly by Obama on North Korea and led to direct sanctions. | That attack was attributed privately to the Russians, while a similar breach last year of Sony’s computer systems was blamed openly by Obama on North Korea and led to direct sanctions. |
| This time it was Chinese hackers who were subject of the rumour mill in Washington – something the White House did little to damp down. | This time it was Chinese hackers who were subject of the rumour mill in Washington – something the White House did little to damp down. |
| “I can’t get into any conclusions that have been reached about who or what country may be responsible for this particular incident,” said Earnest. | “I can’t get into any conclusions that have been reached about who or what country may be responsible for this particular incident,” said Earnest. |
| Related: US government responds to latest hack: give us more power over data collection | Related: US government responds to latest hack: give us more power over data collection |
| “But when it comes to China, you all know that the president has frequently, including in every single meeting that he’s conducted with the current Chinese president, raised China’s activities in cyberspace as a significant source of concern.” | |
| Earlier, more direct accusations from unnamed US sources were met with swift rebuttal in Beijing. | Earlier, more direct accusations from unnamed US sources were met with swift rebuttal in Beijing. |
| Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the US should be “less suspicious and stop making any unverified allegations, but show more trust and participate more in cooperation”, according to an Associated Press report. | |
| “We know that hacker attacks are conducted anonymously, across nations, and that it is hard to track the source,” Hong said. “It’s irresponsible and unscientific to make conjectural, trumped-up allegations without deep investigation.” | “We know that hacker attacks are conducted anonymously, across nations, and that it is hard to track the source,” Hong said. “It’s irresponsible and unscientific to make conjectural, trumped-up allegations without deep investigation.” |
| US officials were unrepentant however, saying they may not make a formal accusation even if they do become sure of whothe might culprit be. | US officials were unrepentant however, saying they may not make a formal accusation even if they do become sure of whothe might culprit be. |
| “Any time that these kinds of investigations are being conducted is that there is risk associated with making public what exactly our investigators have learned,” said Earnest. “And the reason for that is that we’re dealing with a persistent adversary, and in some cases, the less they know about what we know about what they did, the better. And so we’re certainly mindful of that as we talk about this in public.” | “Any time that these kinds of investigations are being conducted is that there is risk associated with making public what exactly our investigators have learned,” said Earnest. “And the reason for that is that we’re dealing with a persistent adversary, and in some cases, the less they know about what we know about what they did, the better. And so we’re certainly mindful of that as we talk about this in public.” |
Previous version
1
Next version