The US Treasury Department levied sanctions on a Chinese firm Monday, accusing it of being a front for ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ state-sponsored hacking.
The announcement came on top of seven indictments issued by the Department of Justice accusing seven members of that company, Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company Ltd. (Wuhan XRZ), with ‘malicious cyber operations.’
Wuhan XRZ’s cyberattacks, officials said, were part of a pervasive effort to sneak malware into critical American utilities including electric grids and water supplies.
Although the presence of this software, buried within critical infrastructure, has not yet led to an offensive cyberattack, US intelligence officials believe that Beijing has installed the malicious code in an effort to thwart US efforts to defend Taiwan.
This afternoon, the US Department of State — which collaborated with the FBI and the DOJ on the hacking probe — announced a $10 million reward for ‘for information on the group and the defendants’ as part of its Rewards for Justice program.
The US Treasury Department levied sanctions on a Chinese firm Monday, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued indictments against seven suspects involved, accusing the firm of being a front for ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ state-sponsored hacking
Above, photos from the DOJ indictment: (Top left to right), Ni Gaobin, Weng Ming,Cheng Feng, (bottom left to right), Peng Yaowen, Sun Xiaohui, Xiong Wang, Zhao Guangzong
The seven indicted hackers, Ni Gaobi, 38; Weng Ming, 37; Cheng Feng, 34; Peng Yaowen, 38; Sun Xiaohui, 38; Xiong Wang, 35, and Zhao Guangzong, 38, are also alleged to have targeted US government officials in addition to public infrastructure.
DOJ officials said the group used ‘sophisticated’ means to hack into economic and defense companies.
‘The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,’ Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
‘This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States.’
The US Treasury Dept. sanctions were part of an joint effort with the UK to crack down on Chinese hacking into essential services.
Treasury officials described the work of malicious, state-sponsored cyber-actors as ‘one of the greatest and most persistent threats to U.S. national security.’
