Intel targetted in cyber attack

Chip manufacturer Intel has announced it was hit by a cyber attack around the same time internet giant Google said it was being targetted by hackers from China.

In a submission to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it faced an attack last month, but has not uncovered any evidence as to whether the attack was successful.

“We regularly face attempts by others to gain unauthorised access through the internet to our information technology systems by, for example, masquerading as authorised users or surreptitious introduction of software,” it said.

“One recent and sophisticated incident occurred in January 2010 around the same time as the recently publicised security incident reported by Google.”

However, it also said it did not suffer the same type of “broad” attacks directed at Google, which reportedly sought to shut down Gmail accounts. The purpose of the attack on Intel is unknown.