Ep 19: Operation Aurora

In this episode of Darknet Diaries, Jack Recider discusses Operation Aurora, a sophisticated cyberattack that targeted Google and numerous other companies in 2009. The attackers, suspected to be a Chinese hacking group known as Elderwood, used zero-day exploits and advanced phishing techniques to gain access to sensitive data, including Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists and source code. The attack led to a major internal debate at Google about censorship in China, ultimately resulting in Google shutting down its Google.cn website and redirecting traffic to Google.com.hk. The episode also explores the aftermath of the attack, including the US government's response, the ongoing threat posed by the Elderwood group, and the broader implications for cybersecurity and international relations.