A week in security: Patch Tuesday and new Chinese hacks

China has been implicated in yet another large scale hacking attack

It has been another eventful week in the information security space, with the discovery of a sinister new malware network controlled from China.

Elsewhere, Microsoft, Adobe and Oracle all announced a bumper set of patch updates for next week, which are likely to keep security administrators busy for some time.

The week started with new powers for the Information Commissioner's Office to fine organisations in serious breach of the Data Protection Act up to £500,000, although it remains to be seen whether these measures will make a great deal of difference.

More disturbing news emerged on Tuesday from the University of Toronto, concerning a targeted malware network controlled by servers in China.

The network is said to have compromised computer systems in the Office of the Dalai Lama, Indian government, business and academic organisations and even the United Nations.

The Chinese government issued a stock denial of any such activities, claiming that they had been "stirred up" to cause trouble.

Believe of that what you will, but the standoff between Google and China at least seems to be abating slightly, with the news this week that some of its mobile services hitherto blocked in the region are coming back online.