Tom Ridge Isn’t Impressed with Chinese Hacker Charges

Calls U.S. effort a "publicity stunt."

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge — he was also the first Homeland Security secretary — isn’t all that impressed with federal cyberespionage charges brought by the Obama Administration against alleged Chinese hackers.

“I frankly thought indicting five Chinese military officers was a public relations stunt,” Ridge told reporters this week.“They’re not going to be extradited, and we’re not going to try them, so what’s the value? I guess there’s a public relations value, but I don’t think there’s an American alive who thinks the Chinese are just going to extradite those folks. I don’t see the strategic value of it.”

The hackers are charged with stealing more than $100 million in online attacks. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)