U.S. Justice Department Indicts Twelve Chinese Nationals for Hacking Scheme
The U.S. Justice Department announced the indictment of 12 Chinese nationals involved in a global hacking scheme targeting U.S. dissidents and organizations. The accusations implicate China’s Ministry of Public Security in illegal cyber activities aimed at suppressing dissent against the Chinese Communist Party. The suspects include government officials and hackers affiliated with a private company, prompting rewards for information leading to their arrest.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department indicted 12 Chinese nationals implicated in a worldwide hacking scheme targeting various entities, including U.S.-based dissidents, news organizations, government agencies, and a significant religious organization. The indictment suggests that China’s Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of State Security utilized private companies and hackers-for-hire to gather intelligence and locate critics of the Chinese government globally.
According to Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division, “Today’s announcements reveal that the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has been paying hackers-for-hire to inflict digital harm on Americans who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).” The indicted individuals include two officers from China’s Ministry of Public Security, eight employees from i-Soon, and two members of Advanced Persistent Threat 27 (APT27).
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, dismissed the accusations as a “smear” against China, urging for a responsible approach toward characterizing cyber incidents based on evidence. The implicated individuals remain at large, and the Justice Department has proclaimed a reward of up to $10 million for information regarding the Ministry of Public Security officers and i-Soon.
The indictment claims that i-Soon sold stolen information to Chinese intelligence to suppress free speech and undermine democratic processes while simultaneously conducting its own hacking activities. Additionally, i-Soon provided hacking training to Chinese government entities, targeting religious organizations and media that criticized China.
Targets included a prominent religious group critical of China, the New York Assembly, and prominent news organizations opposing the Chinese Communist Party. Foreign targets encompassed various figures and ministries in Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia, as noted by the Justice Department.
Zhou Shuai and Yin Kecheng, associated with APT27, face separate indictments for their long-term, profit-driven hacking campaigns, allegedly dating back to 2013. The State Department has also issued a reward of $2 million for information leading to their capture, where they are linked to multiple cyberattacks causing millions in damages.
The indictments signify a considerable escalation in addressing cybercrimes attributed to Chinese nationals targeting U.S. entities and dissidents. They highlight not only the malicious cyber activities employed by state-supported actors but also the broader implications for global security and freedom of speech. The U.S. authorities are determined to hold these individuals accountable, thereby reinforcing the commitment to protect against such cyber threats.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
Post Comment