Report: Google to work with NSA over cyberattacks

According to a report from The Washington Post, following the recent massive cyber attacks originating in China, Google will be working with the United States National Security Agency (NSA). Under the agreement, which has yet to be finalised, the NSA will help Google analyse the information gathered from the recent attacks and will help to investigate and defend against future attacks on the company's networks. The report goes on to say that "the deal does not mean the NSA will be viewing users' searches or e-mail accounts, or that Google will be sharing proprietary data". Neither Google, nor the NSA have confirmed theWashington Post report.

Google had announced in mid-January that hackers based in China had attempted to gain access to the email accounts of several Chinese human rights activists and had stolen important source code that could potentially allow access to other data. Following the attacks, the company said that it was no longer prepared to bow to Chinese censorship, that it is considering withdrawal from the world's largest and fastest-growing internet market and closing down Google.cn and its Chinese office. Google has already received the backing of the US government, however, China has denied any involvement in the attacks.
Created by President Truman in November of 1952, the NSA is the largest intelligence service in the US. Approximately 120,000 soldiers and civilians from around the world work for the agency. In 2005, it was revealed that the NSA had been tapping the telephones of its own citizens.