The US and China are having urgent negotiations on a cyber security deal and may announce an agreement in Washington during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit.
According to The Guardian, the initial agreement, however, was likely to fall short of offering any protection against most of the attacks including spying and the widespread poaching of intellectual property.
The agreement could address cyber attacks on power stations, cellphone networks and hospitals, according to unidentified officials.
US President Barack Obama had earlier urged for an international framework to protect the internet from being "weaponised" as a tool of national aggression.