Βand US accuse hackers linked to Chinese government of persistent piracy affecting commercial property and sensitive trade data - US charges two Chinese
An unprecedented move was made by their governments USA and Britain, accusing hackers linked to the Chinese government of an ongoing cyber-piracy campaign aimed at large-scale intellectual property theft.
In accordance with United Kingdom, Hacker activity across Europe, Asia and the US violates Chinese bilateral relations and international commitments.
As broadcast by Guardian, in a US indictment against two Chinese nationals, accused Chinese hackers of gaining unauthorized access to the computers of at least 45 people. Among them are trading companies, defense systems companies and US government agencies.
They operated under the guidance of the Chinese Ministry of Security
The British Foreign Office and the United States say a group of non-government officials operated under the guidance and protection of China's Ministry of National Security's Central Intelligence Agency. The hackers stole data from 100.000 members of the US Navy, according to the US indictment.
The hacker group had an organization that suited more to a company than a gang, a British government official said.
Officials say the issue has been raised privately at the highest levels in China for two years. In fact, Theresa May raised the issue, among other things. However, piracy has not stopped and the two countries are now taking legal action
They could steal hundreds of gigabytes of data
Prosecutors accuse Zhu Hua and Zhang Shillong of acting on behalf of China's Ministry of Security. Court documents filed in federal court in Manhattan, state that many companies involved in aviation and space up to medical technology have fallen victim to their action. Prosecutors accuse the hackers of being able to steal hundreds of gigabytes of data.
Officials of the national center of cyber security claims that the group targeted intellectual property and sensitive commercial data. One official noted that it is the most serious, persistent and extensive penetration ever observed in global companies, with many tentacles.
The biggest blow to technology companies
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called piracy "one of the most significant and widespread cyber-attacks against the United Kingdom and its allies to date, targeting trade secrets and the world's economies." "These actions must stop."
Technology companies were the biggest victims of the cyber attack.
Britain will not take immediate punitive action, but will review the security measures of large companies in the new year to better protect them.
They launched cyber attacks in 12 countries
According to the indictment, hackers launched cyber attacks in 12 countries in order to steal trade secrets. The two Chinese are said to be members of a group known as APT 10.
The team, from 2006 to 2018, launched a "global campaign" gaining access to computers to steal confidential information and industry secrets from 45 companies in 12 countries.
The group targeted companies from Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden, among others.
According to the indictment, Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong worked for Huaying Haitai, in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry.
"This is simply fraud and theft and this has given China an unfair advantage to the detriment of companies in these countries that comply with international rules," said Undersecretary of Justice Rod Rosenstein. China will find it difficult to prove that it is not responsible, he added, referring to the very detailed and specific allegations against the two Chinese.
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