China accuses three US spies of cyberattack on winter sports

KATHMANDU –– China on Tuesday accused three employees of the US intelligence agency (National Security Agency) of conducting a cyber attack on its important infrastructure during the ninth Asian Winter Games.
The 9th Asian Winter Games were held in Harbin, China, last February. The Chinese police officers involved in the cyberattacks targeting the games have accused Katherine A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling and Stephen W. Johnson, the Times of India reported.
These three people were responsible for the attack on the important information system of the tournament. The system included information publishing, access management, card payments, and local networks.
China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center had previously reported more than 270,000 foreign cyber attacks related to winter sports. Two-thirds of the attacks were claimed to have originated from the United States.
The Harbin Public Security Bureau is offering a reward for the arrest of the accused. Citizens have been urged to help with the investigation.
The authorities have also given a warning to the people involved in espionage. “We will take strong action against cyber attacks against China and theft of state secrets by foreign powers,” a statement said.
China offers cash rewards for intelligence information. Last March, a former engineer was sentenced to death on the charge of giving secrets to foreign powers. Agency