Nortel Hacking: Company Hit By Suspected Chinese Cyberattacks For A Decade

OTTAWA -- International hackers had "widespread access'' to the corporate computer operations of former technology giant Nortel Networks for nearly a decade, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal said Tuesday that seven passwords used by executives of the company -- including its CEO -- wound up in the hands of cyberspies that were likely based in China.

The report was linked to an interview with 19-year Nortel veteran Brian Shields, who was behind a six-month investigation into the security breach that is believed to have started in 2000.

Shields told the Journal that hackers had "plenty of time'' and ``access to everything,'' including research and development reports, as well as the company's future plans for the business.

"All they had to do was figure out what they wanted,'' he said.

Nortel did not disclose the security breach to its potential buyers, nor did the company address the problem until its assets were already for sale, according to the Journal report.

The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 and sold off its assets in pieces to various international competitors of the technology industry.

China's Washington embassy said there is no evidence presented with the allegations, which means it shouldn't be assumed they came from within the country.

Bell Telephone Co.

1  of  9

FIRST SLIDE

PREVIOUS SLIDE

NEXT SLIDESHOW

In a way, it was economic protectionism that made Nortel come into existence. The company's history began in 1882, when the Bell Telephone Company of Canada opened a manufacturing division. It did so because of restrictions on the import of telephone equipment from the U.S.

READ WHOLE POST

Canada House Prices: DBRS Says Canadians Can Handle 40 Per Cent Collapse In Value

TD Bank 2Q Earnings: U.S., Canadian Retail Banking Pushes Profits Up 21 Per Cent

Canada House Prices: Correction Would Cost Banks Tens Of Billions, Fitch Says

Income Inequality: Canada Faces Financial Crises, Greater Instability As Wage Gap Grows, Study Warns

Spain Bank Downgrade Sends Markets Tumbling

Cross-Border Shopping: Cost To Canadian Economy Greater Than Believed

PLAY

FULLSCREEN

ZOOM

SHARE THIS SLIDE 

In a way, it was economic protectionism that made Nortel come into existence. The company's history began in 1882, when the Bell Telephone Company of Canada opened a manufacturing division. It did so because of restrictions on the import of telephone equipment from the U.S.

MORE SLIDESHOWS NEXT >   |   < PREV

Canada House Prices: DBRS Says Canadians Can Handle 40 Per Cent Collapse In Value

TD Bank 2Q Earnings: U.S., Canadian Retail Banking Pushes Profits Up 21 Per Cent

Canada House Prices: Correction Would Cost Banks Tens Of Billions, Fitch Says

Income Inequality: Canada Faces Financial Crises, Greater Instability As Wage Gap Grows, Study Warns

Spain Bank Downgrade Sends Markets Tumbling

Cross-Border Shopping: Cost To Canadian Economy Greater Than Believed

Bell Telephone Co.

 

1

 / 9

SHARE THIS SLIDE

In a way, it was economic protectionism that made Nortel come into existence. The company's history began in 1882, when the Bell Telephone Company of Canada opened a manufacturing division. It did so because of restrictions on the import of telephone equipment from the U.S.

SLIDESHOW THUMBNAILS