The U.S. Justice Department and the FBI have disclosed a significant cyber-attack campaign orchestrated by China, implicating seven Chinese nationals in a decade-long operation targeting American officials, businesses, and critics of China worldwide.
This “malicious” campaign involved sending over 10,000 harmful emails to thousands of victims across several continents, revealing China’s aggressive cyber espionage efforts against the United States and its allies. The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, emphasized the bureau’s commitment to countering these cyber threats and ensuring national security.
Additionally, the UK government has accused China of similar cyber-attacks, including efforts against the country’s Electoral Commission and political figures, an accusation China denies. The U.S. indictment details the extensive nature of the cyber-attacks, highlighting the hackers’ methods of impersonating reputable news outlets to gather victims’ information and further compromising electronic devices for more targeted hacking.
This operation notably affected individuals within the White House, State Department, foreign dissidents, and various U.S. industries, showcasing the wide-reaching impact of China’s cyber espionage activities.
