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[Elan Vital]

Today's WSJ

By SIOBHAN GORMAN

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers on Wednesday seized on revelations that hackers based in China broke into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's computer network to demand legislation bolstering government and private-sector cybersecurity.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) said the breach at the business-lobbying group showed that the private sector needs better information to defend its computer networks.

"Incidents like this show that while the private sector already does much to secure its networks, it needs much clearer authority to detect threats and share information, and needs better access to what the U.S. government knows about dangerous cyber threats," he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that cyberspies suspected by U.S. officials of having ties to the Chinese government infiltrated the Chamber's networks for at least six months. The hackers set up a spying network that involved roughly 300 Internet addresses.

Earlier

China Hackers Hit U.S. Chamber

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said the allegation that the attack originated in China "lacks proof and evidence, and is irresponsible."

Mr. Rogers said legislation he is sponsoring addressed the problem by giving private-sector organizations access to classified data on cybersecurity threats. It would also clear the way, he said, for companies to share information about breaches with the government while receiving liability protection.

Government restrictions and privacy concerns often prevent the government and the private sector from sharing information on cybersecurity threats. The Chamber and a number of large corporations are backing the bill.

An investigation of the Chamber incident showed that the intruders stole the emails of four employees who worked on Asia policy issues. People familiar with the investigation said it wasn't possible to determine whether other documents or information were stolen in the months prior to the May 2010 discovery of the infiltration.

Lawmakers and U.S. intelligence officials have raised pressure on China in recent months in an effort to get the country to curb its alleged espionage, particularly industrial spying.

Mr. Rogers held a hearing on cybersecurity issues in October, where he and the top Democrat on the intelligence committee criticized China for what they said was its pervasive cyberspying. The chief of U.S. counterintelligence in November issued a report describing China as the world's most active perpetrator of economic cyberespionage.

Chamber officials worked to explain the incident to the board of directors and members. "Please rest assured that the security of our information, and your information, is an urgent priority, and we will continue to work to protect it," Chief Operating Officer David Chavern wrote in the Chamber's response to the breach. He said the Chamber had taken steps to prevent future attacks, such as barring employees from taking electronic devices to China. Such devices would include smart phones and laptops.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder declined to comment on the Chamber breach, but said bolstering cybersecurity was a priority. "This is something we are really focused on. It's a 21st century priority."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203686204577112982825331606.html