What was the 2009 cyber-espionage campaign against Google and other companies called?

The 2009 cyber-espionage campaign against Google and other companies was called Operation Aurora.

Google disclosed the campaign in January 2010, explaining that attackers had targeted its corporate infrastructure and stolen intellectual property. The operation affected a wider group of technology, defense, and other organizations, rather than Google alone.

Investigators linked the intrusion to a vulnerability in Internet Explorer and to attackers operating from China, although attribution in cyber operations is complex and can involve multiple levels of confidence. The campaign drew particular attention because it targeted major companies and because Google publicly described the incident and said it would review its operations in China.

Operation Aurora is not the same as every later campaign sometimes described as Chinese cyber-espionage. “Aurora” refers to this specific campaign and its associated activity. The incident helped increase awareness of targeted attacks that began with carefully selected victims rather than indiscriminate mass infection.