China unleashes a state-run cyberwar to hoover up secrets
Targets include Taiwan’s chip industry and the United States and Europe, as well as close ally Russia
A state-run army of hackers is being directed by China to steal critical high-tech data. Groups such as Salt Typhoon have links to the Ministry of State Security and are at the forefront of a secret cyberwar against friends as well as foes.
Across the globe, a concerted campaign is being waged, even against close ally Russia, in a move to hoover up a treasure trove of information. Key targets include “sensitive telecommunications networks” and cutting-edge technology companies.
The latest attack has centered around Taiwan’s chip industry. “We’ve seen entities that we hadn’t ever seen being targeted in the past being targeted,” Mark Kelly, a researcher at cybersecurity company Proofpoint, said in a major report.
“This activity likely reflects China’s strategic priority to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency and decrease reliance on international supply chains and technologies, particularly in light of American and Taiwanese export controls,” he wrote.
Salt Typhoon, a hacking group backed by the Chinese government.
Gurucul, a security analytics company
Data about the data:
- The island democracy is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the global leader in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
- TSMC chips are crucial for the green revolution of smart cars to smart homes and next generation energy grids to energy storage, as well as AI data banks.
Delve deeper: The scale of China’s cyberwar operation is immense, targeting the United States and European and Asian nations, as well as ally Russia. The “no-limits” partnership between Beijing and Moscow has taken on a whole new meaning.
Between the lines: “China [has unleashed] hackers against its friend Russia, [as it seeks] war secrets,” The New York Times reported last month.
Bottom line: “Since the [conflict] in Ukraine, analysts have monitored a series of intrusions aimed at stealing information about weaponry and warfighting,” it stated.
Big picture: Key to China’s nefarious network is “Salt Typhoon, a hacking group backed by the Chinese government, and specifically linked to the Ministry of State Security,” Gurucul, a security analytics company, pointed out.
China Factor comment: In the past five months, online spies breached “network devices” at American giant Comcast, South Africa’s MTN and South Korea’s LG Uplus, cybersecurity firm Recorded Future and Bloomberg News reported last week. Just the tip of the iceberg.