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U.S. address China cybersecurity threat

Recently, the theoretical consequences of state-backed cybercrime have become a stark reality. Countries with longstanding feuds have allegedly taken their tensions to cyberspace, resulting in several high profile attacks directed at critical infrastructures. These incidents include the recent Pyongyang-based cyberattack that disrupted financial institutions and media services as well as a series of assaults targeting U.S. banks which the Iranian government allegedly supported.

The next confrontation seems to be between the United States and China. The cybersecurity tensions between the economic rivals have gone largely unstated until now. The Wall Street Journal reported that officials within the Obama administration confirmed they were considering more aggressive measures in response to allegations that China has engaged in cyberspying activities against the nation. According to some American security officials, the Chinese government has been attempting to steal American trade secrets as a means to enhance its own industries.

In order to prevent such activity from continuing, the Obama administration is reportedly considering many options including diplomatic pressure, trade sanctions, indicting Chinese nationals accused of cybertheft and both aggressive and defensive cybersecurity countermeasures. The confirmation by U.S. officials that strife exists between the two nations in cyberspace is curious given a recent announcement that American and Chinese forces are to form an organization focused on addressing cybersecurity issues.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., expressed disappointment at the accusations of cyberspying made against his country and reaffirmed the Chinese government's commitment to working with American officials to enhance cybersecurity worldwide. During a meeting with U.S. authorities, high-ranking Chinese official General Fang Fenghui echoed the need for joint U.S. and China solutions to cybercrime, reported the Christian Science Monitor.

"I believe that it is important to set up the idea that we should jointly work on this issue and set up a mechanism to enhance coordination and cooperation on cybersecurity," he said.

With more state-backed cybercriminals targeting critical sectors such as financial centers, it is imperative that businesses use encryption to protect sensitive information. Safeguard in-transit data with an SSL certificate today.

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