WASHINGTON—The Navy and its industry partners are “under cyber siege” by Chinese hackers and others who have stolen national security secrets in recent years, exploiting critical weaknesses that threaten the U.S.’s standing as the world’s top military power, an internal Navy review concluded. The assessment, delivered to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer last week and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, depicts a branch of the armed forces under relentless cyberattack by foreign adversaries and struggling in its response to...
The US military's status as a world leader is at risk, due to Chinese and other state-sponsored hackers stealing national security secrets, according to a US Navy internal review. A report by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) found that China has been "actively engaging" in cyber espionage against American military networks since 2010, when it began targeting U.S. government agencies with sophisticated hacking tools. The review also criticises the Navy for underestimating cybersecurity threats. The review recommends that essential data is identified and better protected, that personnel are appointed to lead a long-term cybersecurity strategy, and that contractors are held accountable for adhering to cybersecurity standards.