U.S. DoJ Charges 12 Chinese Nationals in Massive State-Linked Cyber Espionage Campaign
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged 12 Chinese nationals, including government officers and hackers, for their roles in a global cyber espionage campaign. This coordinated effort involved data theft and suppression of dissent, targeting U.S. critics, Asian governments, and key U.S. agencies. The indictment reveals the intricate web of state-sponsored hacking and the U.S. response to safeguard national security.
TL;DR
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged 12 Chinese nationals for their involvement in a widespread cyber espionage campaign. This operation, orchestrated by the Chinese government, targeted U.S. critics, Asian governments, and key U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Treasury. The indictment underscores the complex nature of state-sponsored hacking and the U.S. efforts to counter these threats.
U.S. DoJ Charges 12 Chinese Nationals in Massive State-Linked Cyber Espionage Campaign
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged 12 Chinese nationals, including government officers and hackers, for their roles in a global cyber espionage campaign. This coordinated effort involved data theft and suppression of dissent, targeting U.S. critics, Asian governments, and key U.S. agencies. The indictment reveals the intricate web of state-sponsored hacking and the U.S. response to safeguard national security.
Coordinated Effort to Disrupt Cyber Threats
The Justice Department, FBI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Departments of State and the Treasury announced their coordinated efforts to disrupt and deter the malicious cyber activities of 12 Chinese nationals. These individuals include officers of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Public Security (MPS), employees of the hacking firm i-Soon, and members of the APT27 group (aka Emissary Panda, TG-3390, Bronze Union, and Lucky Mouse).
Global Cyber Attacks
Chinese threat actors, working for i-Soon or freelancing, hacked targets worldwide under PRC orders. These targets included U.S. critics, Asian governments, and the U.S. Treasury in late 2024. The PRC’s MPS and MSS used private firms and private hackers to obscure state involvement in cyber theft. These threat actors exploited vulnerable systems for profit, selling stolen data to the PRC government or third parties. This broad hacking approach led to more global intrusions and exposed systems to future attacks.
U.S. Response and Indictments
A federal court in Manhattan unsealed an indictment against eight i-Soon employees and two MPS officers for hacking email accounts, phones, servers, and websites from 2016 to 2023. The U.S. also seized i-Soon’s primary domain. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky condemned the China-backed cyber activities targeting religious groups, journalists, and government agencies. The FBI is seeking the defendants, and the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program offers up to $10 million for information on individuals conducting state-sponsored cyberattacks against U.S. infrastructure.
Key Individuals Wanted
The U.S. authorities are offering a reward for the following individuals:
- Wu Haibo (吴海波), Chief Executive Officer
- Chen Cheng (陈诚), Chief Operating Officer
- Wang Zhe (王哲), Sales Director
- Liang Guodong (梁国栋), Technical Staff
- Ma Li (马丽), Technical Staff
- Wang Yan (王堰), Technical Staff
- Xu Liang (徐梁), Technical Staff
- Zhou Weiwei (周伟伟), Technical Staff
- Wang Liyu (王立宇), MPS Officer
- Sheng Jing (盛晶), MPS Officer
Sanctions and Further Actions
The U.S. Department of State announced sanctions on Shanghai-based malicious cyber actor Zhou Shuai and his company, Shanghai Heiying Information Technology Company. Zhou Shuai illegally acquired, brokered, and sold data from highly sensitive U.S. critical infrastructure networks. The Department of State also announced reward offers under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) of up to $2 million each for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Zhou Shuai and Yin Kecheng.
i-Soon’s Role and Victims
According to the DoJ, i-Soon primarily served PRC government agencies, working with at least 43 MSS and MPS bureaus, charging $10,000–$75,000 per hacked email inbox. Victims included U.S. agencies like the Defense Intelligence Agency and Department of Commerce, media outlets critical of the CCP, a major U.S.-based religious organization, human rights groups, a Texas organization promoting religious freedom in China, a state research university, and multiple foreign ministries, including those of Taiwan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. A Hong Kong newspaper and a religious leader abroad were also targeted.
Hacking Methods and Tools
i-Soon sold software specifically designed to target victim accounts on various computer systems and applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Twitter, Android, Windows, Macintosh, and Linux. One notable tool, the “Public Opinion Guidance and Control Platform (Overseas),” was designed to leverage hacked Twitter accounts to understand public opinion outside of China.
Legal Consequences
The defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with maximum sentences of five and twenty years in prison, respectively.
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Additional Resources
For further insights, check:
- U.S. Department of Justice Charges 12 Chinese Nationals
- Wikipedia - Chinese espionage in the United States
- FBI Director Christopher A. Wray on Chinese Threats
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