According to a report from the BBC, the US Justice Department and FBI have revealed that millions of Americans' online accounts have been ensnared in what they describe as a "sinister" Chinese hacking scheme that specifically targeted US officials. The operation, which spanned 14 years, has led to charges against seven Chinese nationals accused of orchestrating the cyber-attack campaign.
The accused individuals are alleged to have connections to a hacking group responsible for a widespread and sustained assault on various targets. The US government has offered a reward of up to $10 million for any information leading to the capture of these seven men.
The Justice Department asserted that the hackers targeted not only US officials but also individuals critical of China, businesses, and politicians both domestically and abroad. The operation reportedly involved the distribution of over 10,000 malicious emails across multiple continents, impacting thousands of victims. FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned China's persistent efforts to undermine US cybersecurity and emphasized that cyber espionage will not be tolerated.
These charges come amidst similar accusations by the UK government, which also accused China of engaging in malicious cyber campaigns. The Chinese embassy in London has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless and malicious.
The indictment against the seven Chinese individuals details how their hacking activities compromised various accounts and records, including work accounts, personal emails, and telephone call records. The hackers allegedly used deceptive emails disguised as communications from reputable news outlets or journalists, containing hidden tracking links that, once opened, would transmit the recipient's information to servers controlled by the defendants.
This stolen information was then utilized to conduct more sophisticated targeted hacking, such as compromising home routers and electronic devices. The victims of these attacks reportedly included US government officials, foreign dissidents, and companies across various industries, including defense, telecommunications, finance, and research. Among the targeted companies were defense contractors serving the US military and a leading provider of 5G network equipment, according to the Justice Department.
