Chinese Hacking Plot Exposed: US Officials and Businesses Targeted in Decade-Long Cyber-Attack

After more than a decade-long "sinister" cyber-attack campaign, the US Department of Justice has unveiled charges against seven Chinese nationals. The operation, described as "malicious" and "prolific global hacking", has targeted American and foreign entities, including US officials and critics of China.

Charges and Impact

The seven individuals are accused of sending over 10,000 "malicious emails" to thousands of victims across multiple continents. The campaign has resulted in the compromise of work accounts, personal emails, online storage, and telephone call records. The victims included US and foreign government officials, dissidents, and companies across various industries.

US Response

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized that the hacking reveals China's continuous effort to undermine the nation's cybersecurity. He stated that the FBI will staunchly pursue those who threaten the US's security and prosperity, sending a clear message that cyber espionage will not be tolerated.

UK Accusations and Chinese Response

The UK government has also accused China of "malicious cyber campaigns" targeting its Electoral Commission and politicians. In response, the Chinese embassy in London strongly opposed the accusations, labeling them as "completely fabricated and malicious slanders". As for the US allegations, the Chinese embassy in Washington DC is yet to respond.

Hacking Techniques

The indictment against the alleged Chinese hackers revealed that they used hidden tracking links in emails sent to the targets. Opening these emails would then enable the hackers to obtain information such as location and IP addresses. This data was used for more "direct and sophisticated targeted hacking", compromising recipients' home routers and electronic devices.

Targets and Industries

The victims of the cyber-attack campaign included US government officials, foreign dissidents, and various companies across industries such as defense, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, trade, finance, consulting, and legal sectors. The hackers allegedly targeted defense contractors and a prominent provider of 5G network equipment.

As the charges are announced and the scope of the cyber-attack campaign unravels, the US and UK stand firm in their accusations against China, highlighting the global impact of such malicious activities on cybersecurity and international relations.