GhostNet is a cyber-espionage network that has been uncovered by the Canadian research group Information Warfare Monitor, who released a 53-page report on March 29, 2009, called Tracking 'GhostNet': Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network.The Epoch Times: GhostNet: Massive China-Based Internet Spy Network Unearthed (March 29, 2009) As part of an ongoing, ten-month long investigation, the research group has revealed that dozens of computers are infected daily in at least 103 countries, and all in an effort for the Chinese government to penetrate sensitive embassies and ministries.Telegraph.co.uk: China's global cyber-espionage network GhostNet penetrates 103 countries (March 29, 2009)

GhostNet uses e-mail as its infiltration technique, targeting specific people with e-mails that carry viruses, allowing hackers to overtake the computers and send the viruses to all the contacts stored in the address books.Times Online: Cheap and effective - and so hard to nail those responsible (March 29, 2009) Ultimately, the method allows the initiator to search the computers for relative information, some of which is gathered from the e-mails themselves, and inevitably act as a virtual listening device. Many researchers believe this is all part of China's desire to dominate the world's future "information war."Telegraph.co.uk: China's global cyber-espionage network GhostNet penetrates 103 countries (March 29, 2009)

The Information Warfare Monitor is both a private and publicly funded research group based out of Canada that is made up of the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies Citizen Lab, and the Ottawa based think tank the SecDev Group. The group has been part of a ten-month-long investigation into an online, maleware-infused spy network allegedly operated out of China. The group published a 53-page report on March 29, 2009, called Tracking 'GhostNet': Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network.The Epoch Times: GhostNet: Massive China-Based Internet Spy Network Unearthed (March 29, 2009) Other institutions across the globe have also been studying GhostNet and China's possible involvement as well, but all, including the Information Warfare Monitor, have been cautious in their implications as they have admitted to having no concrete proof.Telegraph.co.uk: China's global cyber-espionage network GhostNet penetrates 103 countries (March 29, 2009)