McAfee Uncovers Largest-Ever Hacking Attack

Anonymous and LulzSec are nothing compared to this: The biggest-ever series of cyber attacks, recently uncovered by security company McAfee, involved 72 networks over a period of five years. Victims include the UN, the International Olympic Committee, defense contractors, tech companies, and governments including the US, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Vietnam, and Canada. There appears to be one "state actor" behind all the attacks, according to McAfee; one security expert says China is the most likely culprit.

"What is happening to all this data ... is still largely an open question," writes a McAfee VP in a report out today, adding that if the information is being used to compete in business or negotiations, "the loss represents a massive economic threat." McAfee first learned of the campaign, dubbed "Operation Shady RAT" for "Remote Access Tool," in March. Attacks lasted anywhere from a month to 28 months, Reuters reports. (More hack stories.)