- Google has all but pointed their finger at the Chinese Government being behind the attacks. This leads me to believe that the attacks and the potential damages might be significantly higher than what is being told to us currently.
- Google has taken a strong moral position on the freedom of information on the Internet by stating that they will not censor search results on Google.cn. This might mean that if the Chinese govenernment does not relent Google might close its doors in China for good. We can be sure that other companies - not just Internet/Web ones - are watching this very closely and what they do will definitely depend on what happens between Google and China.
- Google is a distant second to Baidu in China with no foreseeable chance of ever becoming #1 unless something drastically changes Is Google using the recent cyber attacks as a lever to gain a competitive advantage in China with uncensored searches? After all, Google has a much better chance of gaining substantial market share from Baidu in an uncensored, open market. Taking the moral high ground is good for Google's image as well.
- Today there are at least 18 cybersecurity bills before Congress with none having a clear majority. Most cyber security experts agree that nations such as China and Russia threaten the security of American government and private-sector key IT systems. Consider that the Pentagon has spent more than $100 million in only 6 months responding to and repairing damage from cyber attacks. Hopefully, the congress will finally get its act together in this critical matter and pass a cyber security bill with some real teeth to protect our national interests - public and private.
I'm sure, we've only seen the beginning of what is surely to be a memorable event in the history of IT.
* Originally posted in the ebizQ Friday Tech Forum on January 15, 2010.
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