Cyber hackers targeting intellectual property: Symantec

Security experts have traced concerted cyber attacks on chemical and defence industries focused on intellectual property, including formulas and design processes, over the past three months.

Online security firm Symantec says at least 29 chemical firms have been targeted in recent cyber attacks that were traced to China and that the purpose in most cases appeared to have been industrial espionage.

"The purpose of the attacks appears to be industrial espionage, collecting intellectual property for competitive advantage," Symantec said in a report.

Symantec said it has evidence of cyber attacks on another 19 companies, including those specialising in defence production.

Symantec did not name any hacker or target company but said the victims of the attacks that started in late July and ran into mid-September included Fortune 100 firms as well.

At least 12 of the companies targeted by the attackers were US-based while five belonged to the UK and two to Denmark, it said.
 
A BBC report, meanwhile, quoted US chemical giant Dow Chemicals as saying that hackers have targeted it through some "unusual emails" during the summer.