New York Times says victim of Chinese hackers

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The New York Times said on Wednesday it had fallen victim to hackers possibly connected to China's military, linking the attacks to its expose of the vast wealth amassed by a top leader's family.

The hackers have over the past four months infiltrated computer systems and snatched staff passwords, and their probing has been particularly focused on the emails of Shanghai bureau chief David Barboza, the newspaper said.

According to a Barboza story published on Oct 25, close relatives of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao have made billions of dollars in business dealings.

"Chinese hackers, using methods that some consultants have associated with the Chinese military in the past, breached The Times's network," the newspaper said, citing a wealth of digital evidence gathered by its security experts.