Google attack traced to two Chinese schools

Recent cyber attacks on Google and other American corporations have been traced to a top Chinese university as well as a school with ties to the Chinese military, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing people involved in the investigation.

Those people told the Times that the Chinese schools involved are Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Lanxiang Vocational School. They said the attacks may have started as early as April 2009 - earlier than previously thought.

According to the report, investigators believe there is evidence suggesting a link to a computer science class at the vocational school taught by a Ukrainian professor.

Google jolted US-China ties with its January 12 announcement that it had faced a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack" in mid-December, allegedly from inside China.

More than 20 other companies were also targeted, though Google said a primary target was dissidents' email accounts.