U.S. officials say they stole identity and video game technology, paid ransom and spied on Hong Kong workers. Two Malaysians have been arrested’ but five Chinese remain.
The U.S. Department of Justice on
Wednesday indicted five Chinese nationals and two Malaysians for global hacking
in at least six years.
The hackers targeted more than 100
companies and individuals in the United States and around the world, including
software development, video game and social media companies, officials said. He
allegedly spied on pro-democracy politicians and activists in Hong Kong and
gained access to official computer systems in India and Vietnam.
The allegations are part of the Trump
administration's wider efforts to ban cybercrime by China amid tensions between
the two countries.
Who are the hackers?
The seven were long known’ by cyber
security experts as the "APT 41" hacking organization, identified by
their combined tools and techniques.
Three of the Chinese suspects operate from
Chengdu 404, a Sichuan-based company that intends to offer network security services
to other businesses.
Although the allegations did not indicate
a direct political motive behind the hackers' activities, a plaintiff, a member
of Chengdu 404, Jiang Lizhi, allegedly established ties with the Chinese
Ministry of State Security.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of
Columbia, Michael Sherwin, said a hacker for profit is not hacking a
pro-democracy group.
The five Chinese suspects are on the run,
but prosecutors say two Malaysians were arrested’ in Malaysia this week and are
facing extradition to the United States.
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