China-Based Hackers Target Law Firms

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-31/china-based-hackers-target-law-f=
irms.html

By Michael A. Riley and Sophia Pearson
Bloomberg
Jan 30, 2012

China-based hackers looking to derail the $40 billion acquisition of the=20
world=E2=80=99s largest potash producer by an Australian mining giant zer=
oed in=20
on offices on Toronto=E2=80=99s Bay Street, home of the Canadian law firm=
s=20
handling the deal.

Over a few months beginning in September 2010, the hackers rifled one=20
secure computer network after the next, eventually hitting seven=20
different law firms as well as Canada=E2=80=99s Finance Ministry and the=20
Treasury Board, according to Daniel Tobok, president of Toronto-based=20
Digital Wyzdom. His cyber security company was hired by the law firms to=20
assist in the probe.

The investigation linked the intrusions to a Chinese effort to scuttle=20
the takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. by BHP Billiton Ltd.=20
as part of the global competition for natural resources, Tobok said.=20
Such stolen data can be worth tens of millions of dollars and give the=20
party who possesses it an unfair advantage in deal negotiations, he=20
said.

Though the deal eventually fell apart for unrelated reasons, the=20
incident illustrates the vulnerability of law firms. They are=20
increasingly threatened with a loss of client business if they can=E2=80=99=
t=20
show improved security as such attacks continue to escalate.

[...]


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