China has taken the reins as the world's preeminent cyber power, evolving into a dynamic force capable of attacking and disrupting its economic and military adversaries while dominating weaker nations it seeks to control. Recent research indicates that China is shifting its cyber objectives, targets, and tactics, demonstrating its intent to influence the dynamic global digital landscape. The newly released IntSights analytics report, "The Dark Side of China: The Evolution of a Global Cyber Power," makes the case that the country is a force to be reckoned.
While the US, Russia, Israel, and several European nations all have sophisticated cyber capabilities, one threat intelligence firm argues that China's aggressive approach to cyber operations has made it "perhaps the world's greatest cyber power."
The nation's aggressive approach to using cyber operations to achieve political and national aims has set its cyber strategy apart from the more cautious and considered methods of most other nations. Attackers linked to China have vacuumed up personally identifiable information on US and European citizens, stolen trade secrets and intellectual property, and exfiltrated classified information from government agencies, all without much political impact on the Chinese government.
The US government has already designated China as the nation's top cyber adversary.