The U.S. can expect more aggressive cyberespionage efforts from China, Russia and other countries looking to collect information in areas such as pharmaceuticals, defense and manufacturing, according to a new government report.
The report, from the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, also provided recommendations for how organizations can strengthen their defenses.
“Chinese actors are the world’s most active and persistent perpetrators of economic espionage,” the report said. “Russia’s intelligence services are conducting a range of activities to collect information and technology from U.S. targets.”
Sensitive information on smartphones and laptops is an attractive target for cyberspies. The report says encryption, multifactor authentication and real-time network monitoring may help keep data safe.
The report cited the case of Dongfan Chung, an engineer with Rockwell and Boeing who worked on the B-1 bomber and was found to have 250,000 documents in his house.
“Cyberspace makes possible the near-instantaneous transfer of enormous quantities of information,” the report said.
