When Kevin Mandia, a retired military cyber-crime investigator, decided to expose China as a primary threat to U.S. computer networks, he didn't have to consult with American diplomats in Beijing or declassify tactics to safely reveal government secrets.
The article examines how private security companies like Mandiant have become central to fighting cyberattacks, with Stuart McClure and other industry leaders quoted on the growing role of private firms in national cyber defense.
China has disputed Mandiant's allegations. Mandiant, which look in some $100 million in business last year — up 60 percent from the year before — is part of a lucrative and exploding market that goes beyond antivirus software and fire walls.