America's Rendering of Chinese Hacker Threat Is Like A Thief Calling Another A Thief

Published in The People's Daily
(China) on 22 February 2013
by Di Zhang (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stefanie Zhou. Edited by Daye Lee.
The “hacker threat” theory surrounding China is causing a great clamor. A number of American media sources, including the New York Times and the Washington Post, have hyped up the continual attacks they are encountering from Chinese hackers. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. network security company Mandiant issued a report claiming that hackers related to Chinese military have repeatedly attacked American websites. Furthermore, it identified the hackers’ headquarters as an ordinary building in Pudong, Shanghai. Both the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defense refuted this claim.

As early as 2010, the New York Times made a fool of itself by randomly pointing people to the “hackers’ spectrum.” Obstinate and falsely confident, the publication claimed that Shandong Lanxiang Technical School (which is known for training talented people in auto repair, excavating and electric welding areas) was in fact a “Chinese Hackers Camp,” and as a result, it confused the technical school and attracted ridicules online. This time, the Americans are making a comeback in a similar vein, but they are still relying on mere IP address guesswork. The fact is, the number of IP addresses originating in the U.S. ranks highest among the cyber-attacks China has suffered. Could we borrow the American approach, and use "IP tracking" as evidence and simply look up the addresses to determine which buildings or technical schools are housing the U.S. hackers’ headquarters?

Using tricks and deliberate misrepresentations is not a wise approach. It only creates the impression that a thief is calling another a thief. When it comes to the internet, the U.S. fully deserves the title of world leader. It created the internet, set rules for it and is home to innumerable main servers. When it comes to hacker attacks, the U.S. is also number one. It not only invented the majority of viruses, but launched the highest number of hacker attacks as well. It often harasses others, yet always puts on the appearance of a victim, frequently questioning and accusing others. Such a paradox between actions and logic is a symptom of a “masochistic personality disorder,” to put it lightly. In other words, the U.S. is pursuing hegemonism in the virtual world.

There is no real profit to be made from "getting up early" here. There is clearly some other motive behind the U.S.'s sustained efforts to raise a storm around the “hacker” events, though what this motive is is still unclear. However, we could consider that, when the U.S. media hypes up the “Chinese hacker threat" theory, President Obama can gain greater authority to implement “preemptive” cyber-attacks. The news that the U.S. Department of Defense plans to expand its current number network technicians by five times has also been revealed. These circumstances naturally cause people to doubt whether the U.S. is truly defending its legitimate rights or campaigning for the expansion of its “cyber army,” whether the U.S. is racking its brain for the maintenance of world network security or running gimmicks for congressional appropriations and public support.

In recent years, the U.S. has used the internet to provoke opposition around the world. Creating conflicts and inciting revolutions are becoming the norm for the U.S. The network war has already entered the its diplomatic and military arenas. In today’s world, where network technology has been deeply integrated into human productivity and lifestyle, the U.S. is sparing no effort to promote the militarization of cyberspace, develop rules for network warfare and increase the risk of military conflict in cyberspace, and by doing so, posing a serious threat to our national security and international peace. On this point, we must be clear-headed and prepare for necessary defenses.

In the age of the internet, the rules of the game cannot be determined by the Americans alone. All countries are shapers of and participants in the future of cyberspace. Only comprehensive cooperation can lead to win-win scenarios and contribute “positive energy” to international network security. If we attack one thing today and suspect something else tomorrow, cyberspace will never experience peace and interests of all parties will be compromised. The U.S., as the boss of the internet world, should bear its responsibility. The thief trick seems smart, but it is, in truth, very irresponsible. Better to play it less.


  最近一阵子,关于中国的“黑客威胁论”甚嚣尘上。先是包括《纽约时报》、《华盛顿邮报》在内的一些美国媒体,炒作自己持续遭到中国黑客攻击。其后不久,美国网络安全公司Mandiant又发布报告,称与中国军方有关的黑客多次攻击了美国网站,还将黑客总部锁定在位于上海浦东的一栋普通楼房。对此说法,中国外交部和国防部均予以驳斥。

  其实,早在2010年《纽约时报》就闹出过乱点“黑客谱”的笑话。言之凿凿,硬是把以培训汽修、挖掘机、电气焊等方面人才见长的山东蓝翔技校“捧”成了“中国黑客大本营”,搞得技校一头雾水,引来网友一通调侃。这一回,美国人卷土重来,用的还是靠IP地址凭空猜测那一套。而事实上,在中国所遭受的网络攻击中,源自美国的IP数量名列第一。借用美国人的思维,我们是不是也可以简单地以此为据,查一查美国的黑客总部到底是在哪栋小楼,或是哪家技校里头呢?

  美国这套指鹿为马的手法并不高明,反倒给人几分贼喊捉贼的感觉。说到互联网,美国是当之无愧的世界老大,网是它发明的,规则是它定的,主要服务器亦多在美国;说到黑客攻击,美国更是世界元凶,不光大部分病毒都是美国人造出来的,从美国本土发动的黑客攻击也是最多。自己经常骚扰别人,却总扮出一副受害者的模样,动不动就指责这个,质疑那个,如此荒悖的行事逻辑,说轻点是患上了“受虐幻想症”,说重点就是在虚拟世界推行霸权主义。

  无利不起早,美国频繁拿一个个真相尚不清楚的“黑客”事件大做文章,显然是醉翁之意不在酒。事实上,就在美国媒体大炒“中国黑客威胁论”的当口,美国总统奥巴马可能获得更大权限实施“先发制人”网络攻击、美国防部计划将网络技术人员扩编5倍的消息也随之透露了出来。此情此景,让人不得不怀疑,这是美国在为自己正当维权,还是在为扩编“网军”鼓风造势?是为维护世界网络安全殚精竭虑,还是在为骗取国会拨款和民众支持制造噱头?

  近些年来,美国运用互联网在世界各地挑动对立、制造冲突、煽动革命渐成常态,网络战已经全面进入美国的外交和军事领域当中。在网络技术深刻融入人类生产和生活方式的今天,美国不遗余力地推动网络空间军事化,变相制定网络战规则,正在无形中增加网络空间军事冲突的风险,对各国安全和国际和平构成了严重威胁。在这一点上,我们一定要头脑清醒,有针对性地做出必要的防备。

  互联网时代,游戏规则的制定不能是美国人一家说了算,各个国家都是未来网络空间的塑造者和参与者。惟有全面合作,方能互利共赢,并为国际网络安全贡献“正能量”。如果今天攻击这个,明天猜忌那个,网络空间恐怕将永无宁日,各方利益也都会受到损害。美国作为互联网世界的老大,更应该承担好自己的责任。贼喊捉贼的把戏看似聪明,但很不负责任,还是少玩为妙。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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