Steven J. Koch wrote in part: >The following is opinion, not necessarily fact. The same is true here. >While penalties for "hacking" (why can't anyone use the appropriate >term, cracking?), have become more severe in China, unfortunately >those outside the jurisdiction of China's laws have nothing to worry >about because the Chinese government is not working with other >governments to pursue these people. It is also plausible that the things done by China-based crackers may further the socio-political and economic aims of the Chinese government, whether or not these crackers are actually sponsored by that government. Blocking measures instituted by malware targets to defend their networks may provide the only motivation that government has to do anything substantive, to be a good internet citizen, and root them out. If there are no adverse consequences, and the crackers are doing damage to your adversaries, then why go to the expense and bother? Best regards, Neil Dickey, Ph.D. email: neil@xxxxxxxxxxxx Research Associate/Sysop Geology Department Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois, U.S.A. 60115
