Editing Industrial espionage (section)

===United Kingdom===
During December 2007, this was suddenly revealed that [[Jonathan Evans, Baron Evans of Weardale|Jonathan Evans]], head of the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[MI5]], had sent out confidential letters to 300 chief executives and security chiefs at the country's banks, accountants and legal firms warning of attacks from Chinese 'state organisations'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/british-firms-told-of-china-cyber-spying/|title=British firms told of China cyber spying|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-12-02|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref> A summary was also posted on the secure website of the [[Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure]], accessed by some of the nation's 'critical infrastructure' companies, including '[[Telecommunications|telecoms firms]], banks and water and electricity companies'.{{sfn|Blakely|2007a}} One security expert warned about the use of 'custom [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojans]],' software specifically designed to hack into a particular firm and feed back data.{{sfn|Blakely|2007a}} Whilst China was identified as the country most active in the use of internet spying, up to 120 other countries were said to be using similar techniques.{{sfn|Blakely|2007a}} The Chinese government responded to UK accusations of economic espionage by saying that the report of such activities was '[[Defamation|slanderous]]' and that the government opposed hacking which is prohibited by [[law]].{{sfn|Blakely|2007b}}