US has charged seven Chinese nationals in connection with a massive hacking operation that compromised millions of Americans’ online accounts, targeting US officials among others. The FBI and the Justice Department revealed these details on Monday, highlighting the 14-year-long cyber-attack campaign, as reported by BBC News.
According to the authorities, these hackers were part of a “sinister” plot backed by the Chinese government, aiming at critics of China, businesses, and politicians across the globe. The operation involved sending over 10,000 harmful emails, impacting thousands of victims on multiple continents. The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the apprehension of these individuals.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the continuous threat posed by China’s efforts to undermine US cybersecurity and target American innovation. “Cyber espionage will not be tolerated,” Wray stated, assuring ongoing efforts to combat threats to national security.
This announcement follows similar accusations by the UK government, which blamed China for “malicious cyber campaigns” against the country’s Electoral Commission and politicians. New Zealand has also reported attempts by China-backed hackers to target its parliament, as per the New Zealand Herald.
The Chinese embassy in Washington DC has denied these allegations, calling them “groundless accusations” made without valid evidence.
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The hackers allegedly used sophisticated techniques to breach personal and work accounts, including emails and online storage. They often disguised their malicious emails as being from reputable news organizations or journalists, embedding tracking links that, when opened, relayed the recipient’s information to a server controlled by the hackers. This data was then used for further targeted attacks, compromising electronic devices and home routers.
Victims of these cyber-attacks included US government officials, their spouses, foreign dissidents, and companies across various sectors such as defense, telecommunications, finance, and research. Notably, the hackers targeted companies providing services to the US military and leading providers of 5G network equipment.
This case underscores the ongoing cybersecurity challenges faced by the US and its allies, highlighting the global nature of cyber espionage and the need for vigilance against such threats.
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