Numerous Gmail Accounts Hijacked via Spear Phishing
Search giant Google revealed Wednesday it has disrupted a hacking effort that appears to be originated from China, targeting Gmail accounts of various people, including senior U.S. government officials. Gmail Website

Since Google revealed that the latest cyber attack against its Gmail service once again stemmed from China, representatives for the Chinese Government has spoken out and officially denied the country's involvement.

The attack is the latest of three major cyber attacks against Google, all of which have originated from China.

The latest cyber attack targeted the company's Gmail service, reportedly targeting the accounts of senior U.S. government officials as well as numerous Chinese activists and journalists.

The hacking attempt was reportedly done using malware and fraudulent phishing techniques. The attack was designed to grant the hackers access to the account and thus by extension, the ability to monitor the accounts activities.

Google has since confirmed the origin of the attack to be in the Shandong Province of central China.

The attack reportedly stemmed from hackers in Shandong Provinces' Capital city Jinan.

This isn't the first time Google has had problems with Jinan hackers. The city has been the subject of global scrutiny for some time. This is due to the fact that not only does it house one of the People's Liberation Army's six technical reconnaissance bureaus, but also the technical college commonly thought to have playing a role in 2009's attack on Google.

The revelation has led to fresh speculation that China is using hackers in a growing espionage campaign against other foreign powers -- an allegation China has consistently denied.

As suspicion once again rises about China's involvement, a spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry has openly stated that the Chinese Government had no involvement in the cyber attack against Google.

Speaking at a news briefing, the spokesman Hong Lei commented: "Blaming these misdeeds on China is unacceptable.

"Hacking is an international problem and China is also a victim. The claims of so-called support for hacking are completely unfounded and have ulterior motives."
Google has already issued a statement promising that it successfully disrupted the attack. It also stated that all those targeted had been alerted and that the "relevant authorities" had been notified.

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