Chinese hackers went into overdrive to steal US drone technology: Report

Chinese hackers have been reportedly trying to monitor and gain access to the technology used by the US in developing military drones.

Manager of threat intelligence at FireEye, Darien Kindlund, who monitored the espionage, said that the Chinese campaign is the largest to be solely focused on drone technology

Kindlund said that the campaign seems to align well with the focus of the Chinese government to build up their own drone technology capabilities

According to the New York Times, the hacking carried out by a group called 'Comment Crew' indicates to China's ambitious drone development program, and would help the government fasten up the development process.

Military analysts M. Easton said that cyberespionage was one tool in an extensive effort over years to purchase or develop drones domestically using all available technology, foreign and domestic, saving the Chinese years of design work and mistakes.

Easton said that the American drones are not designed to enter into contested or denied air space and therefore they would be unable to fight in any conflict with China.

An American official confirmed that drone technology had been stolen by hackers and for the Obama administration and American business executives; no method of Chinese technology acquisition is more worrisome than cyber espionage.