China’s security spotlight

Putting aside the debate about whether Google’s threatened withdrawal from China is a PR exercise or a genuine protest against censorship and cyber attacks (I reckon it might be a bit of both), one of the bigger questions being raised now is just how prevalent are Chinese cyber attacks on foreign companies?

The answer, it appears, is: very.

Security commentators are now suggesting that Google’s protest over internet censorship is a secondary issue compared to the pain the search engine giant – and, apparently, 34 other mostly US companies – have felt from plain-vanilla cyber attacks aimed at stealing intellectual property.

And it’s not just companies. Apparently the US Defence Department was the subject of 90,000 separate attacks last year alone.

So there are really two issues here: a political one (net censorship) and a business issue (commercial cyber attacks).

China’s leaders might refuse to budge on the first (as they have for decades) but can they really be seen to be doing nothing on the issue of cyber attacks?

Particularly if, as has been suggested, some the hackers involved may have the quiet backing of the Chinese Government?

China has always been seen as notoriously difficult place to do business, but its performance in the area of intellectual property appeared to be getting better in recent years.

However, Google’s actions suggest this might not be the case and this incident should underline to all companies operating in the country just bad the problems of cyber security have become.

If nothing else, perhaps Google will force a clean-up that will benefit every foreign company doing business in this roaring economy.