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Hacking attack on Chinese Government Units


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In a recent case, a Chinese technology company, whose name has not been disclosed, was targeted by a foreign hacking group for cyber extortion. Consequently, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) issued a warning on Thursday, stating that the networks of “hundreds” of other Chinese businesses and government units have also been infiltrated by these overseas hackers. The MSS emphasized that this infiltration is in preparation for “larger scale criminal activities.” The warning was transmitted through a message on the MSS’s official WeChat account, aiming to raise public awareness about the risks of hacking and cyber-ransom from foreign sources. The MSS expressed concerns about potential “huge economic losses and leakage of sensitive information,” particularly due to the prevalence of cyberattacks by foreign agencies in recent years.

This news was initially reported by the Global Times, a newspaper affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship publication, the People’s Daily. The South China Morning Post, based in Hong Kong, also verified the development. The MSS further cautioned that China’s national security could be “severely” compromised if sensitive or classified information were to fall into the hands of foreign spy agencies or individuals with malicious intent.

The MSS’s warning coincides with a period of accusations between China and the US, both accusing each other of state-sponsored cyberattacks. Consequently, both countries have been expanding their efforts in cybersecurity.

In their WeChat post, the MSS provided an example of a recent incident where a “hi-tech enterprise” was blackmailed after its data and information systems were encrypted and locked by the aforementioned overseas hacking group. This attack also caused disruptions in the company’s daily production and business operations.

The MSS’s investigations revealed that, in addition to the ransomware attack on the aforementioned company, the foreign hacking group had also infiltrated the networks of hundreds of domestic businesses and government units, in preparation for larger criminal activities. However, the MSS did not disclose the location or identity of this hacking group.

Furthermore, the MSS urged individuals and organizations to report any cyberattacks or ransom demands to China’s national security authorities.

Earlier this week, the MSS emphasized that Chinese authorities possess the authority to freeze assets or impose other sanctions on foreign organizations or individuals who “attack, invade, interfere with, or damage” China’s information infrastructure.

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