Reports of Chinese Cyberspying against U.S. Corporations

Today the Wall Street Journal ran a story about a report that the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission contracted Northrop Grumman Corp. to create. The report, which I have not yet read, was supposed to have been released today.

The report indicates that Chinese espionage operations via cyberspace are on the rise, and that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been recruiting members for cyber-warfare militia units.

According to the article, Chinese Cyber-spies steal $40 - $50 billion per year in intellectual property from US organizations.

I have two fundamental questions:

1. Can we trust a company like Northrop Grumman Corp. to create such a report, since they are a part of our Military Industrial Complex, and have launched an advertising campaign describing themselves as "the face of cyber-security"?

2. If the reports are accurate - shouldn't we be building our own cyber-warfare militia units?

I think it is proper to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. So...

CyberCede is now accepting applications for participants in its cyber-warfare militia. Please send an e-mail with "cybercede cyber-warfare militia" in the subject line to "metajunkie at gmail.com" to express interest.

Sensei Metajunkie