Strange that they would hack NYT when NYT's source for the WenJiaobao article seemed to be public financial records and info from wikileaks (state department cables).
What is the strategic gain from hacking NYT? Identify potential other sources (within china) perhaps?
Any decent reporter is going to try to track down additional sources if possible. Conversely Chinese dissidents who want to get word out to the world are much more likely to talk to reporters for the NY Times than to the Chinese government. Therefore this becomes a possible way to identify dissidents.
Even their public outing is good for them. The fact that this story is out there will make it less likely that Chinese dissidents will dare talk to NY Times reporters. Which means that dissidents will have a harder time getting their stories out to the world.
There are other benefits to the Chinese as well. For instance the rich data that the Times has about various US organizations could help them identify people who could become useful informants.
More often than not, the journalist or their editor get tips from people in the know (who are trusted NOT to disclose that information to you). Only then does a journalist start combing public records to have a verifiable (and non incriminating) source -- there's just too much to look at without some initial hints.
Perhaps they are looking for information about the tipsters.
TBH, it could be anyone in the chain with sufficient authority to trigger it and hoping to impress someone who can reward him in a tangible manner.
And the sad thing, it is not limited to bureaucracies or government organisations. I have seen bugs that are not fixed, patches that are rejected because it allows someone somewhere to behave heroically in an attempt to impress someone.
When I first experienced this, it was a very real WTF moment from the School of Dilbert Mismanagement.
What is the strategic gain from hacking NYT? Identify potential other sources (within china) perhaps?
---email---
Hey [NYT reporter,]
you may wanna check this
....lists wealth and place where this can be verified...
James
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email 2
Hey NYT Exec
got a tip from a State Dept source regarding Chinese leaders
wealth....
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Maybe they'll get a "I can't believe he/she gave me herpes" email or at worst they mess with, and raise the cost of doing business for NYT. The cost to the Chinese is as close to zero as possible, they have the money and manpower, so why not do it.
What is the strategic gain from hacking NYT? Identify potential other sources (within china) perhaps?