US lays cyber-espionage charges against 5 Chinese military officials

(19 May 2014) The United States has brought first-of-its kind cyber-espionage charges against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into US companies to gain trade secrets. According to the indictment announced on Monday, hackers targeted the US nuclear power, metals and solar products industries and are accused of stealing trade secrets and economic espionage. The alleged victims are Alcoa World Alumina, Westinghouse Electric Company, Allegheny Technologies, U.S. Steel Corporation, United Steelworkers Union, and SolarWorld, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Monday. The charges have been described as unprecedented and fulfil a long-time Obama administration goal to prosecute state-sponsored cyber threats. "These represent the first ever charges against known state actors for infiltrating United States commercial targets by cyber means," Holder told a news conference at the Justice Department. The charges against the Chinese military officials come on the heels of a separate worldwide operation over the weekend that resulted in the arrest of 97 people in 16 countries who are suspected of developing, distributing or using malicious software called BlackShades, Holder said. An announcement on those arrests was expected for later on Monday in New York. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...