To Catch a Thief: China’s Rise to Cyber Supremacy Ep 2: Then They Came for Us
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Mar 17, 2025 David Barboza, a former New York Times correspondent known for investigating the secret wealth of Chinese leaders, joins the discussion. He shares his harrowing experience when hackers, linked to a Chinese military unit, infiltrated The Times to thwart his groundbreaking investigation. The conversation reveals the chilling implications of cybersecurity breaches, the consequences of journalistic integrity under threat, and the risks of exposing corruption amidst rising tensions between China and the U.S.
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Google Discloses Hack
- Google disclosed a sophisticated attack from China in 2010, causing immediate uproar.
- However, instead of encouraging other companies to come forward, it had a chilling effect.
Silence After Google
- Other companies learned to stay silent about hacking incidents, fearing repercussions in the Chinese market.
- This silence allowed the hacks to escalate for years.
Politburo Member Behind Hack
- Wikileaks revealed that a senior Chinese Politburo member ordered the Google hack.
- He was reportedly unhappy with his Google search results.