In brief
The Department of Justice unveils charges against Chinese hackers for allegedly compromising data belonging to US dissidents and various government agencies, raising cybersecurity concerns globally.
The US Justice Department has officially charged twelve Chinese nationals as part of a significant hacking operation purportedly selling US dissident data to the Chinese government. Among those indicted are two officers from China's Ministry of Public Security, who allegedly led the efforts, with hackers purportedly representing a private entity known as i-Soon. This operation is reported to have targeted US government agencies, including the Treasury Department, and a religious organization critical of the Chinese government, as well as a Hong Kong newspaper.The DOJ's statement disclosed that hackers charged between $10,000 and $75,000 for access to compromised email accounts, executing "computer intrusions" both independently and on behalf of Chinese ministries. Sue J Bai, who oversees the DOJ's National Security Division, emphasized President Biden's commitment to countering such "reckless" cyberattacks and dismantling the alleged network of cyber mercenaries.While specifics about the US dissidents targeted were not disclosed, reports indicate that the implicated religious organization previously engaged in missionary work in China and has openly criticized the Chinese government. Notably, the hackers also aimed their efforts at the foreign ministries of several countries, including Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. This latest indictment aligns with previous accusations against Chinese nationals for cyber operations, including attempts to breach major US presidential campaigns last year and a long-running hacking scheme targeting foreign critics of China that lasted over 14 years. Additionally, similar cyber operations have been linked to attempts to hack electoral systems in the UK and New Zealand, raising alarm over the political cybersecurity landscape.
