Computer hackers in China, including those working on behalf of the Chinese government and military, have penetrated deeply into the information systems of U.S. companies and government agencies, stolen proprietary information from American executives in advance of their business meetings in China, and, in a few cases, gained access to electric power plants in the United States, possibly triggering two recent and widespread blackouts in Florida and the Northeast, according to U.S. government officials and computer-security experts.

“China’s Cyber-Militia: Chinese hackers pose a clear and present danger to U.S. government and private-sector computer networks and may be responsible for two major U.S. power blackouts.” By Shane Harris, National Journal, May 31, 2008
Hat tip, Slashdot

More

• “Chinese hackers: No site is safe,” by John Vause, CNN, March 11, 2008
• “Hackers exploit China earthquake to punt Trojan,” by John Leyden, The Register, May 22, 2008
• “Cyber officials: Chinese hackers attack ‘anything and everything’,” by Josh Rogin, FCW, February 13, 2007
• “Botnets, Cybercrime, and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress,” by Clay Wilson, CRS Report for Congress RL32114, November 15, 2007 (43-page pdf )
• “Information Operations, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberwar: Capabilities and Related Policy Issues,” by Clay Wilson, CRS Report for Congress RL31787, March 20, 2007 (17-page pdf )
• “Critical Infrastructure: Control Systems and the Terrorist Threat,” by Dana Shea, CRS Report for Congress RL31534, January 20, 2004 (22-page pdf )
• “Banking and Financial Infrastructure Continuity,” by N. Eric Weiss, CRS Report for Congress RL31873,
  January 31, 2008 (24-page pdf )

• “High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) Devices: Threat Assessments,” by Clay Wilson, CRS Report for Congress RL32544, March 26, 2008 (24-page pdf )