China blasts Google security move as 'unacceptable' | HT Tech

China blasts Google security move as 'unacceptable'

A Chinese Internet regulator on Thursday slammed as "unacceptable" a decision by Google Inc to no longer recognise its certificates of trust, a move which could deter Chrome browser users accessing sites approved by the authority.

By:AFP
| Updated on: Apr 02 2015, 14:08 IST

A Chinese cyberspace bureau on Thursday denounced Google for deciding not to recognise the agency's authority after a Beijing-linked security breach, calling the US Internet giant's action 'unacceptable and unintelligible'.

The reprimand from the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) came after Google said the agency was implicated in an online security vulnerability and the firm was revoking its trust in its Internet certificates.

You may be interested in

MobilesTablets Laptops
28% OFF
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
  • Green
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
Google Pixel 8 Pro
  • Obsidian
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
Vivo X100 Pro 5G
  • Asteroid Black
  • 16 GB RAM
  • 512 GB Storage
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
  • Black
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage

The row marks the latest escalation of tensions between Beijing and Google.

Also read
Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

The California-based tech firm withdrew from China in 2010 over censorship issues, and the two have continued to have a turbulent relationship, with Beijing moving last year to fully block Google's hugely popular Gmail service.

China operates the world's most extensive and sophisticated Internet censorship system, known as the 'Great Firewall'.

A Google security engineer wrote on the company's online security blog last week that CNNIC and a firm called MCS Holdings had been found to have issued 'unauthorised digital certificates for several Google domains'.

The 'misissued certificates would be trusted by almost all browsers and operating systems', he said, describing the resulting vulnerability as a 'serious breach' of the Internet certificate authority system.

Microsoft and Mozilla, owner of the popular Firefox web browser, also announced they were revoking trust in all MCS certificates.

The Google posting was updated Wednesday to note that CNNIC's certificates 'will no longer be recognised in Google products' adding that the Chinese organisation was 'welcome... to reapply once suitable technical and procedural controls are in place'.

An anti-censorship group, GreatFire.org - which has accused Beijing of attacking its services -- said the original revelation was evidence that CNNIC had been 'complicit' in so-called man-in-the-middle operations.

Such attacks involve an unauthorised intermediary inserting themselves between computer users and their online destinations, usually undetected, allowing them to harvest data including passwords.

CNNIC has denied that it was directly involved and said the incident took place when MCS Holdings 'improperly issued' certificates that were 'only used for internal tests in its laboratory, which is a protected environment'.

China's foreign ministry also dismissed the accusations, with spokeswoman Hua Chunying telling reporters that 'all parties should abandon accusing each other without proof'.

Beijing frequently describes itself as a victim of hacking.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 02 Apr, 11:10 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS