The US and allies accuse China of cyberattacks. China’s hackers are also said to be responsible for an attack on Microsoft’s e-mail program. The tone intensifies.
The US government and several allies blame China for “irresponsible malicious cyber activities” such as hacker attacks.
The European Union, Great Britain, NATO and other partners are jointly accusing communist China of “malicious cyber activities”, as the White House said on Monday. Among other things, the USA blames China for the attack on the Microsoft Exchange Server e-mail software in March. China’s “pattern of irresponsible behavior” is incompatible with Beijing’s claim to be seen in the world as a responsible leading power, it said.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) also uses criminal hackers for cyberattacks, the White House said. In some cases, the government-affiliated hackers have also carried out so-called ransomware attacks against companies that hackers used to extort millions of dollars. The theft of intellectual property and cryptocurrencies is also part of the repertoire of China’s cyber criminals. China’s refusal to stop its hackers’ activities has cost the government and corporations billions of dollars over stolen data, extortion and countermeasures.
However, the US government and allies did not initially announce any consequences such as sanctions against China. Since taking office, US President Joe Biden has been promoting the toughest possible course on China, the world’s second largest economy, among allies. The Biden government has already imposed sanctions on Russia for hacker attacks.
Based on the intelligence of the secret services, the US government assumes that hackers with MSS connections were responsible for the attack on the Microsoft Exchange server. “Tens of thousands of computers and networks” were compromised. The US government has therefore communicated its concerns in talks with leading politicians in China, it said.
The Justice Department on Monday announced charges against four MSS hackers. They are accused, among other things, of stealing intellectual property in the fields of commercial aviation, defense and drug development for years. According to the indictment, the hackers also wanted to steal the formula for the Ebola vaccine produced by a US manufacturer.
“This criminal charge shows once again that China continues to use cyber-based attacks to steal what other countries manufacture – in stark contradiction to its bilateral and multilateral commitments,” said Deputy Justice Minister Lisa Monaco. The extent of China’s cyber attacks against numerous industries and countries shows “that no country and no industry is safe,” she said.
The European Council in Brussels also denounced China’s “malicious cyber activities”, as it was called on Monday. These would have had a significant impact on government institutions and political organizations of the EU member states as well as on European key industries. The EU urges China to adhere to international standards and take decisive action against cyber attacks, the Council said.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
