Chinese Hackers Breach US Security; FBI Leads the Investigation

The US Treasury Department disclosed on Monday that Chinese hackers had gained access to a third-party software service provider, allowing them to access multiple workstations and unclassified data.

The attack happened earlier this month and is now being treated as a serious cybersecurity issue.

US Department Hacked 

The Treasury informed parliamentarians that there was no proof the hackers still had access to its data, but it did not disclose the number of workstations that were accessed or the documents that were taken. According to a spokeswoman, the department is strengthening its cyber defenses and treating the attack seriously.

The spokeswoman told the Associated Press, "Treasury takes all threats against our systems and the data it holds very seriously." "Treasury has strengthened its cyber defense over the past four years, and we will keep collaborating with partners in the public and private sectors to defend our financial system against threat actors," they continued.

When did the hacking happen?

The department was notified by BeyondTrust, a third-party service provider, on December 8 that hackers had obtained a key that enabled them to go around protection and remotely access employee workstations, which led to the breach. Since then, the impacted service has been shut off.

Hacking Strings Connected to China

The attack, which has been connected to suspected Chinese state-sponsored hackers, is being investigated by the Treasury in close collaboration with the FBI and the cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency.

The US claims that this cyber breach is part of a larger string of cyberattacks associated with China, such as the Salt Typhoon campaign, which has affected at least nine telecoms businesses.

China Denies the Allegations

Beijing has refuted any involvement in the accusations, stating that it opposes such actions and takes precautions against cyberattacks in all their forms.

The Treasury's inquiry is still in progress, and officials are working to ascertain the extent of the breach.

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