Google's security team eventually managed to gain access to a server that was used to control the hacked systems, and discovered that it was not the only company to be hit.
This appears to be new and interesting information.
This appears to be new and interesting information.
Edit: Seems more likely that the anti-hack claim is bs, as other comments are suggesting Google employees did the hacking from within the office. This would suggest the attacks against the other companies were on Google-run apps used by those companies.
Chinese government hackers are not script kiddies. They would not make that mistake, even in the made for TV movie. Chinese, indeed ANY, national intelligence agency is well resourced.
My guess is that either a lot of information coming out about this right now is being made up by people with no verifiable knowledge of the matter, or there is something that Google is not telling us. Could be both, but I'd put money on internet based know-nothing loudmouths.
And just saying what Google has said, the way they've said it, is pretty much the end of their business in China. It would take something like a glastnost event or revolution for things to change course now.
That's an awfully high a price to pay unless you're pretty damn sure the government is directly responsible, or protecting those that are.
In tracking Chinese infiltration of the Tibetan movement, they discovered compromises in various embassies and other organizations in countries all over the world.