WASHINGTON, D.C.—Two U.S. congressmen called for more computer security for government computers on Wednesday after revealing that their computers were hacked from China. The congressmen were likely targeted for being vocal in their support for human rights advocates in China.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) revealed that his office computers were compromised in 2006 and Chris Smith (R-NJ)'s computers were compromised in 2006 and 2007. Those responsible for this cyber attacks came from China, according to the F.B.I., said Wolf.
On the same day, Wolf offered a resolution and released a statement on the House floor, calling for greater protection of Congressional computers and information systems.
Wolf also divulged that based on meetings with the House Information Resources and the F.B.I. that other Congress members and at least one committee of the House had been similarly compromised.
Wolf said he worries that other Congress members and those who protect the security of this country are too complacent and in a state of denial as to the gravity of the problem of cyber espionage.
"My office's computers were cleaned and returned to me by House Information Resources, but ever since this happened, I have been deeply concerned that Congress is not adequately aware of or protected from these types of threats," said Rep. Wolf in a statement released with the House resolution.
Wolf had been advised to keep silent about the vulnerability of his and other's computers.
"…our intelligence, law enforcement, national security and diplomatic corps remain hesitant to speak out about this problem."
Wolf suspects that he was targeted by China because of his long history "of speaking out about China's abysmal human rights record."
Congressman Wolf cited a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report which says that U.S. government agencies reported 12,986 cyber security incidents to the Department of Homeland Security in 2007 – triple the number from just two years earlier.
The Department of Defense is particularly subject to spying and cyber attacks. The CRS reports that the Global Information Grid—the main network for the U.S. military— experiences more than three million daily scans from unknown sources.
Wolf said that China, in particular, is actively engaged in espionage against the United States.
"I strongly believe that the appropriate officials, including those from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, should brief all Members of Congress in a closed session regarding threats from China and other countries against the security of House technology, including our computers, Blackberry devices, and phones," said Wolf. "The potential for massive and coordinated cyber attacks against the United States is no longer a futuristic problem. We must prepare ourselves now and develop universal procedures for responding to this threat."
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