Current:Home > FinanceU.S. charges Chinese nationals in hacking scheme targeting politicians, businesses -Zenith Money Vision
U.S. charges Chinese nationals in hacking scheme targeting politicians, businesses
View
Date:2025-04-24 18:04:13
Washington —The Justice Department announced charges against seven Chinese nationals with ties to a state-sponsored group in a hacking scheme, accusing the individuals of targeting U.S. businesses and political officials, candidates and campaign staff to promote the Chinese government's "economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives."
The indictment charges the seven individuals, which were allegedly part of a "group of malicious cyber actors," with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their ties to the hacking group's work, some of which resulted in successful compromise of email accounts and phone records.
"This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
Part of the alleged hacking scheme centered around emails sent to the targeted individuals and businesses that appeared to be from news outlets or journalists, which contained hidden phishing links that provided relevant information to a server controlled by the alleged hackers.
Among those targeted were individuals working at the White House and federal agencies, along with members of Congress from both political parties and in some cases their spouses. Campaign staff from both parties were also targeted ahead of the 2020 election.
"Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. "As alleged in today's indictment, this prolific global hacking operation —backed by the PRC government— targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets."
But the Justice Department made clear in a news release that the indictment "does not allege that the hacking furthered any Chinese government influence operations against the United States," which is consistent with a report released in 2021 that found that while some information had been gathered by Chinese actors, it was not used in influence operations.
Earlier Monday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the hacking group, known as APT31, accusing it of being a branch of Beijing's top spy agency. The move came as the UK government similarly accused Chinese nationals of a hacking scheme, which took place in 2021, targeting personal details of voters.
Nicole Sganga contributed reporting.
- In:
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Security Hacker
- China
Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.
TwitterveryGood! (23845)
Related
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Just how hot was July? Hotter than anything on record
- Hawaii mourns the dead in ferocious wildfires while officials warn the full toll is not yet known
- Coast Guard searching for four missing divers off the coast of North Carolina
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Book excerpt: The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
- Barbie bonanza: 'Barbie' tops box office for fourth week straight with $33.7 M
- A woman says she fractured her ankle when she slipped on a piece of prosciutto; now she’s suing
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Custard shop that survived COVID and car crashes finds sweet success on Instagram
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Book excerpt: The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
- Jury acquits 1 of 2 brothers charged in 2013 slaying in north central Indiana
- Baltimore Orioles OF Cedric Mullins robs game-tying home run, hits game-winning home run
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Maui wildfire crews continue to fight flare-ups in Lahaina and inland, as death toll rises past 90
- Pilot survives crash in waters off Florida Keys, poses for selfie with rescuer
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, August 13, 2023
Recommendation
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
The man shot inside a Maryland trampoline park has died, police say
Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels reflects on his Hollis, Queens, roots
Best Buy's 3-Day Anniversary sale has early Labor Day deals on Apple, Dyson and Samsung
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Pilot and crew member safely eject before Soviet-era fighter jet crashes at Michigan air show
Trial for Hunter Biden is not inevitable, his attorney says
Best Buy's 3-Day Anniversary sale has early Labor Day deals on Apple, Dyson and Samsung