CYBERWAR - Chinese Hack U.S. Weapon Designs?

COMMENT:  The digital-world makes things much easier for everyone, BUT that includes for criminals and espionage.  This means EVERYONE has to be more vigilant about protecting their online data.  Unfortunately our government is playing catchup in technology (hardware and software).

"Is U.S. Less Secure After Chinese Hack Weapons Designs?" PBS Newshour 5/28/2013

Excerpt

JEFFREY BROWN:  There was a new report today of cyber-spying by the Chinese, this time aimed at U.S. military and defence systems.

According to The Washington Post, designs for more than two dozen U.S. weapon systems have been hacked and compromised.  The Post cited a confidential report by a Pentagon advisory panel called the Defense Science Board -- among the designs said to have been breached:  An advanced Patriot missile system; the FA-18 fighter jet; and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, considered the most expensive weapons system ever built.

In a written statement today, a Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department "takes cyber-espionage very seriously," but "suggestions that cyber-intrusions have somehow led to the erosion of our capabilities or technological edge are incorrect."

Warnings about the cyber-threat from China to both the military and private businesses have grown in recent months.  In March, National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon told an audience that the attacks had to stop.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TOM DONILON, United States:  Increasingly, U.S. businesses are speaking out about their serious concerns about sophisticated, targeted theft of confidential business information and proprietary technologies through cyber-intrusions emanating from China at a very large scale.  The international community cannot afford to tolerate such activity from any country.