The U.S. Department of the Treasury informed Congress in a letter that a China-backed hacker infiltrated its computer systems and stole some non-classified documents. The breach, described as a “major incident,” occurred in early December this year.
According to reports from The New York Times and Reuters, who reviewed a copy of the letter, a China-linked actor managed to access non-classified information from the computers of several Treasury Department employees.
The letter, addressed to the Congressional Banking Committee, also revealed that the cyberattack was reported on December 8th by a software services company called “Beyond Trust,” which provides services to the Treasury Department.
Beyond Trust informed the Treasury that hackers, supported by China, accessed employee computers by exploiting the company’s password system. They managed to gain access to some Treasury documents during this breach.
In recent years, the U.S., China, Russia, and Iran have been accused of launching cyberattacks against government, private sector, and infrastructure systems in various countries.
The United States, along with several other nations, has repeatedly warned that state-backed Chinese hackers are conducting malicious activities to infiltrate the computer systems of governments, militaries, and industries.
This latest cyberattack adds to growing concerns over the rise of state-sponsored cyber threats. The increasing frequency and sophistication of such attacks have prompted calls for stronger international cybersecurity measures and enhanced cooperation between governments.
China, for its part, has consistently denied these accusations, emphasizing its opposition to cyberattacks and reiterating its commitment to maintaining cybersecurity. The situation highlights the ongoing global tensions over cyber warfare and the need for better defense mechanisms.
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