Return to site home page News pages International News Feature articles Jobs board Blog pages Discussion
Search the entire site by keyword
exhibitions
venues
organisers
suppliers
search
Login
Register for newsletters
Register for news
Register for job alerts
 

Job of the Week

Exhibtion Sales Team Leader/manager, 25 – 32K Basic plus commission

 
More Jobs
Look for other jobs
Some more information about us
Some more information about us

Chinese spies target UK exhibitors

Monday, February 01, 2010

The British secret service has accused China of ‘bugging and burgling’ UK exhibitors and businesses at international trade fairs in an bid to obtain sensitive commercial secrets.

A leaked document written, according to the Sunday Times, by MI5’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, claims undercover intelligence officers from the People’s Liberation Army and the Ministry of Public Security in China, approached UK businessmen at trade fairs and exhibitions with “gifts” and “lavish hospitality”.

These gifts, in the form of cameras and memory sticks, have been found to contain electronic Trojan bugs which provide the Chinese with remote access to user’s computers, according to The Sunday Times report.

With a large UK presence expected at Shanghai Expo this year the warning to British businessmen has a big exhibition resonance: “Hotel rooms in major Chinese cities,” the ST quotes from the report, “such as Beijing and Shanghai, which are frequented by foreigners, are likely to be bugged…hotel rooms have been searched while the occupants are out of the room”.

The hospitality, referred to in the report as a series of concerted “honeytraps”, are, in select cases, a bid to blackmail UK businesses into betraying sensitive commercial information.

Key targets for the subterfuge include business exhibitors in the energy, communications and manufacturing sectors.

The report says MI5 believes the Chinese government “represents one of the most significant espionage threats to the UK” because of its use of these methods, as well as widespread electronic hacking.

If you would like to comment on this story, or if you believe your business has been in any way compromised as a result of industrial espionage, please get in touch at arc@mashmedia.net

 
Also in News
rule
bullet Chinese spies target UK exhibitors
Monday, February 01, 2010
The British secret service has accused China of ‘bugging and burgling’ UK exhibitors and businesses at international trade fairs in an bid to obtain sensitive commercial secrets. ... More
 

bullet IMEX for Vegas in 2011
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Chairman of the IMEX Group, Ray Bloom, is to take his IMEX brand to North America. He announced in Las Vegas that IMEX America will run as a trade show for the US meetings industry. It will take place at the Sands Expo Convention Center at the Venetian/Palazzo 11-13 October 2011. ... More
 

bullet By mayoral appointment
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will welcome UK and overseas visitors to this year’s World Travel Market exhibition. ... More
 

bullet World Cup 2010 Leeds with new ambassador
Thursday, August 20, 2009
South Africa Tourism’s ‘2010 Ambassador to the World’ has been announced as ex-Leeds United and South Africa footballer Lucas Radebe. ... More
 

bullet DMG offloads majority of UK-based events business
Thursday, August 13, 2009
International trade show producer DMG World Media has sold the majority of its UK-based events business to publishing and exhibitions company Quartz Business Media. ... More
 

bullet O2 owner denies venue is up for sale
Monday, August 03, 2009
The owner of UK venue The O2 has rejected claims made in the UK press that a Cambridge University college is in advanced talks to buy the arena. ... More
 

  Records 1 to 6 of 20
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
 
 
 
   Print This    
Sign up for the weekly expoabc newsletter.
First Name 
Last Name
Email address
Job Function
 
 
  Association Partners:
 
 
 

 
  Events Partners:
 
 
 
 
  In association with: