WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The United States' top spy catcher said Chinese espionage agencies are using fake LinkedIn accounts to try to recruit Americans with access to government and commercial secrets, and the company should shut them down.
William Evanina, the U.S. counter-intelligence chief, told Reuters in an interview that intelligence and law enforcement officials have told LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft Corp., about China's "super aggressive" efforts on the site.
He said the Chinese campaign includes contacting thousands of LinkedIn members at a time, but he declined to say how many fake accounts U.S. intelligence had discovered, how many Americans may have been contacted and how much success China has had in the recruitment drive.
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WNU Editor: LinkedIn boasts 562 million users in more than 200 counties and territories, including 149 million U.S. members. It is a fertile ground to target people and to learn what they are doing, and I suspect that the Chinese are not the only ones who are using it for intel reasons.
It's shocking the kinds of sensitive jobs that are posted publicly in the turn stile of Washington DC. It would be an easy trap with promises of high salaries.
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ReplyDeleteI wonder if the con can be a two way street? Milk them chinamens for a few paychecks.
Exhibit A to prove the necessity to strip security clearances from public officials at the end of their service. This is a great example how the needs of the swamp outweigh the needs of the people.
ReplyDeleteSecond problem is anyone with a security clearance must be perfect in their handling of secrets. For that reason Hillary Clinton who in the very best interpretation of her conduct was sloppy and careless with US secrets ought to be charged and put on trial for her misconduct. Examples to others.
We can only wish!! The GOP is moving to slow.
DeleteLinkedIn belongs to Microsoft. If you think your conversations on there are not listened in to by nsa and CIA and 50 other agencies worldwide, you're a fool. So all turned spies are known and it is incredibly amateurish by China to go that route. Incredibly amateurish
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