The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted 12 Chinese nationals, including two Chinese government officials, over allegations of a vast cyber-espionage campaign. This campaign has reportedly included significant breaches, such as the U.S. Treasury Department, and has revealed both the internal workings and communications of the hackers involved.
The indictment, announced recently, accuses these individuals of participating in more than a decade of hacking operations targeting various entities worldwide, including U.S. governmental bodies, media outlets critical of China, and foreign ministries across Asia. Among those indicted are eight members of the contractor firm i-Soon and two officials from China’s Ministry of Public Security, along with hackers linked to the Chinese hacking group APT27, known as Silk Typhoon.
Prosecutors described the group’s activities as reckless, detailing their targeting of American firms and stating that some hackers even operated independently, selecting their targets and selling stolen data back to Chinese governmental clients. Communications from Yin Kecheng, one of the indicted hackers, showcased his preference for American targets, saying, "I just like the Americans, nothing else is as good."
The operation was noted for its commercial nature, with firms like i-Soon charging Chinese government clients based on the number of email accounts breached, potentially making millions in revenue. This hacker-for-hire ecosystem illustrates a worrying trend: the existence of semi-autonomous hackers operating under government umbrella, indicating a more significant threat to global cybersecurity.
The DOJ’s assertion suggests that Chinese contractors not only acted on state orders but also pursued independent objectives for profit, thereby leading to unpredictable and indiscriminate targeting of networks worldwide. All twelve individuals remain at large, and the U.S. has announced rewards for information leading to their capture, while emphasizing a commitment to exposing harmful cyber activities associated with the Chinese Communist Party.
