HACK ATTEMPTS STARTED IN 2018
The affidavit said the hackers used tools they developed to compromise critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks in the US and worldwide since at least 2018. The affidavit said that not all their attempts to gain access were successful. The hackers unsuccessfully attempted to gain access to NASA networks in August 2019 by targeting a virtual private network vulnerability.
In September 2024, the hackers carried out intrusions at three unnamed Energy Department laboratories, the NIH, an unnamed HHS agency, and a US security device manufacturer, according to the affidavit.
A joint cybersecurity advisory issued by the FBI, NSA and US Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force detailed multiple hacking efforts over the years. These included successful data theft from unnamed defence contractors, financial institutions and universities in May 2024.
The hackers also scanned for vulnerabilities and made unsuccessful attempts to access networks of the US Senate and a US hospital in March 2026.
A NASA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on specific incidents, and the Department of Health and Human Services referred questions to the DOJ. The DOJ did not respond to a request for additional detail.
Chinese-linked hacking campaigns have compromised a string of sensitive US government and private networks in recent years.
In March, the FBI notified Congress that hackers had penetrated certain agency networks related to people under FBI investigation, with public reporting later attributing the compromise to China.
Chinese-linked hackers have also been tied to a compromise of certain US House of Representatives committee networks, as well as multiple major telecommunications companies in recent years.
Experts who follow Chinese cyber activity say private contractors routinely carry out high-profile intrusions on behalf of various Chinese government agencies.
“Over the last decade, the number of companies offering niche offensive services has exploded,” said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with cybersecurity company SentinelOne.
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