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International News

In China, Business Travelers Take Extreme Precautions To Avoid Cyber-Espionage

October 01, 2011 posted by Steve Brownstein

Security experts are warning that travelers should avoid bringing electronic devices carrying important company contacts and confidential information with them to China if at all possible.

This warning stems from the pervasive electronic surveillance and cyber-espionage undertaken by the Chinese government and other regional sources.

Although experts have posted similar warnings about other countries, China stands out because much of its focus is on using cyber-espionage that is aimed at improving the country's economy by stealing information from travelers, among other sources.

“I’ve been told that if you use an iPhone or BlackBerry, everything on it — contacts, calendar, e-mails — can be downloaded in a second.

All it takes is someone sitting near you on a subway waiting for you to turn it on, and they’ve got it,” said Kenneth Lieberthal, a former senior White House official for Asia who is at the Brookings Institution.

In order to prevent such attacks, some corporate travelers bring disposable cell phones or temporary laptops that have been stripped of all classified data.

Others do not take any electronic devices at all, or hide files on a thumb drive that they only use on off-line computers.

A few will even take detours to Australia instead of risk talking in a bugged Chinese hotel room or purchase iPads or other devices for one-time use on a trip.