Cyber Criminals Target U.S. Companies Like “Drunken Burglars”

In an interview broadcast recently on CBS’ 60 Minutes, FBI Director James Comey addressed cybercrime, comparing Chinese computer hackers to a “drunk burglar” who steals with reckless abandon, costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars every year, according to the Associated Press. Comey said the hackers target the intellectual property of U.S. companies in China every day.

“They’re kickin’ in the front door, knocking over the vase, while they’re walking out with your television set. They’re just prolific. Their strategy seems to be: ‘We’ll just be everywhere all the time, and there’s no way they can stop us,’” Comey said.

The Justice Department earlier this year announced a 31-count indictment against Chinese hackers accused of breaking into computer networks at steel companies and the manufacturers of solar and nuclear technology, with the goal of gaining a competitive advantage. China has denied the allegations. S