Chinese Hackers Charged in Global Cyber Espionage Campaign
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that ten Chinese hackers and two Chinese law enforcement officers have been charged in a global hacking campaign. This campaign targeted dissidents, news organizations, and U.S. government agencies.
The Justice Department stated that the hacking was, in some instances, directed by China’s Ministry of Public Security. This agency received the stolen information and selected targets for these intrusions. U.S. officials describe this as a large-scale intelligence-gathering operation.
One notable target of the hacking was the U.S. Treasury Department, which reported a breach by Chinese actors late last year. The hacking group, I-Soon, is part of a network of private hacking contractors in China. An Associated Press investigation from last year documented these companies stealing data from other countries to sell to Chinese authorities.
Over the past two decades, the Chinese state security’s demand for foreign intelligence has increased dramatically. This has resulted in a vast network of these private, for-hire hacking companies. These companies have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside of China.
