Niwa super computer attacked from Chinese internet address, PM confirms

Prime Minister John Key trod delicately around the risk of a diplomatic and trade row following revelations of a cyber attack on the governments National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

The IP (internet protocol) address identified as the source of the attack was in China but that did not mean it originated from there, the PM told his weekly post-cabinet press conference.

I would be very wary of attributing it to any country, he says.

The IP address identified for the Niwa attack was in China but that does not mean it originated there, the PM says.

It is very very difficult to know where these come from they often hide their identity through an IP address they used and sometimes it might look as though it comes from a particular country but they might just be the host.

The IP address on this particular case was China although that does not mean at all it is from a Chinese entity.

Last week the US Federal Bureau of Investigation indicted Chinese citizens (three army officers and two civilians) on charges relating to cyber espionage aimed at numerous American firms and unions and said numerous cyber attacks had been linked to members of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. The indictment itself is seen as Quixotic (there is almost zero chance China will extradite the men to face charges), but is seen by most commentators as a warning shot, and an attempt embarrass China into changing its (alleged) pattern of attacks.

However, Mr Key says there is no evidence the NIWA attacks came from China.

The number of cyber attacks on New Zealand have nearly doubled in the last year, he says from 134 in 2012 to 219 last year.

But these come from a wide range of sources and most - around 70% - are aimed at private businesses and not government institutions.

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Niwa super computer attacked from Chinese internet address, PM confirms

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