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Information Warfare Monitor exposes cyber spy network

31 March 2009 07:42 (UTC +04:00)

Bakuâ€“ APA-Economics. A major cyber spy network based in China that had infiltrated computers across 103 countries was uncovered by Canadian researchers. The researchers have stated that 1295 computers across 103 countries have been infiltrated out of which at least 30% are said to be high-value targets.

The investigations began when researchers from University of Toronto had been asked to examine computers in the office of Dalai Lama for presence of "malicious software".

According to the report, Information Warfare Monitor, part of the University of Torontoâ€™s Munk Center for International Studies, had conducted extensive investigations from June 2008 to March 2009 focusing on the allegations of Chinese cyber espionage against the Tibetian community.

The study has revealed the existence of a malware based cyber espionage network that the researchers have named - Ghostnet.

Ghostnet is capable of taking full control of infected computers, including searching and downloading specific files. It was also able to covertly operate attached devices like microphones and web-cameras.

The report further states that several instances of the spy network were controlled from commercial internet access accounts located on the island of Hainan in China.