In a significant cybersecurity breach, the US Treasury Department has reported that state-sponsored Chinese hackers infiltrated its systems, leading to unauthorized access of employee workstations and unclassified documents. This incident, deemed a "major breach," marks yet another example of rising cybersecurity tensions between the US and China.
US Treasury Cybersecurity Breach Attributed to Chinese Hackers
US Treasury Cybersecurity Breach Attributed to Chinese Hackers
Major hacking incident highlights growing tensions between the US and China amid ongoing cyber threats.
The breach was disclosed in a letter to Congress wherein the Treasury noted that the infiltration took place via a vulnerability in a third-party service provider's software, specifically BeyondTrust, which has since been deactivated. While the hackers remotely accessed several systems, the Treasury believes they were primarily gathering intelligence rather than attempting to siphon funds.
The intrusion was first detected by BeyondTrust on December 2 and notified to the Treasury on December 8. In response, the Treasury has engaged both the FBI and forensic experts to assess the extent of the breach and determine possible ramifications.
Chinese officials have vehemently denied any involvement, labeling the US accusations as unfounded and a form of misinformation. They condemned the US for politicizing cybersecurity concerns while two specific Chinese hacking groups, named Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, have been linked to various cyber operations over the past year.
The Treasury indicated that a detailed report regarding the breach is forthcoming, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity amidst a backdrop of previous high-profile hacks attributed to Chinese actors.
With China continuing to reject the claims, the cyber warfare narrative grows, reflecting the complicated relationship between these two nations and sparking concerns over national security.
The intrusion was first detected by BeyondTrust on December 2 and notified to the Treasury on December 8. In response, the Treasury has engaged both the FBI and forensic experts to assess the extent of the breach and determine possible ramifications.
Chinese officials have vehemently denied any involvement, labeling the US accusations as unfounded and a form of misinformation. They condemned the US for politicizing cybersecurity concerns while two specific Chinese hacking groups, named Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, have been linked to various cyber operations over the past year.
The Treasury indicated that a detailed report regarding the breach is forthcoming, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity amidst a backdrop of previous high-profile hacks attributed to Chinese actors.
With China continuing to reject the claims, the cyber warfare narrative grows, reflecting the complicated relationship between these two nations and sparking concerns over national security.
