In most movies related to computer hacking, we often see that a hacker masterminds a great hacking strategy and infiltrates the host system without raising any alarms; the hacker then proceeds to do some damage or obtain whatever information is required, and then leaves the system, again without raising any red flags. By the time the victim computer discovers the infiltration, the hacker is long gone. Consequently the hacker can no longer be caught nor traced.

In real life however hackers do not have it that easy; big companies (of which the computer systems hold valuable information) take cyber security extremely seriously. If a hacker even attempts to extract confidential data, the monitors of the company detect it.

Google have proven this by their recent brush with Chinese hackers. Apparently Google’s engineers in Silicon Valley suspected hackers compromising private Gmail accounts. Instead of announcing their suspicion, the engineers sneakily counter-hacked the hackers systems, tracking them to a computer in Taiwan. Within this computer Google found evidence of hacking attacks on 33 other companies. These companies included big names like Adobe Systems and Juniper Networks.

The sophistication and breadth of the attacks directly suggest Chinese involvement in the hacking and also strongly suggest that it was carried out with some level of governmental assistance. But lack of airtight proof has left the United States dodging the issue to avoid any premature confrontation with the Chinese government.

Google already had its problems with the China’s government imposing various censors on the search giant’s search results. Google’s aim of achieving a free internet was seemingly being made impossible by China. Therefore the strong hint of the hackers being Chinese has only worsened relationship between Google and China.

One thing that can be learned from the entire ordeal is that hackers cannot get away with their cybercrimes – as hackers become more threatening, the cybercrime-fighters get more creative (and resultantly successful) in their counters.