Commenting on the major news that The United States has charged five members of China's military for stealing American corporate secrets, Tom Cross, director of security research, Lancope, said:
"This important move by the US Department of Justice is a step forward on the long road toward establishing a set of international norms regarding cyber espionage. A clear international legal framework exists for acts of warfare between nation states, even if those acts occur in cyberspace, but that framework only applies to attacks that damage physical infrastructure or that have the potential to harm people. There are fewer rules that apply to spying activity.
The Internet has proven to be a bonanza for spies, who can now directly connect to the computers and communications devices that are being used by their targets, without having to leave the comfort of their home countries. Spying activity in cyberspace has become rampant and impacts organizations of all sizes and in all lines of work, from multinational corporations to individual political activists.
Part of addressing the problem of international spying on the Internet involves setting standards for what is and is not an acceptable target. While I doubt that foreign military commanders who are prosecuted by the Department of Justice will be successfully apprehended and brought to justice, these prosecutions do send a clear message regarding what sort of behavior the United States views as unacceptable. That message will prompt a dialog about International norms in this area, and having that dialog is a vital part of coming to grips with the impact that Internet security issues are having on our societies."