CHINA DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN US TREASURY CYBER-ATTACK

Tue 31 December 2024:

Beijing on Tuesday dismissed as “false” the claims that the US Treasury was breached in a “major cybersecurity incident,” state media reported.

“These unfounded accusations (are) lacking evidence,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

Mao’s comments came in response to a report by US-based New York Times, which alleged that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group infiltrated the US Treasury Department, gaining unauthorized access to government workstations and unclassified documents.

“China has always opposed all forms of hacking attacks, and we are even more opposed to the dissemination of false information targeting China for political purposes,” Mao said, rejecting the New York Times claims.

“Based on available indicators, the incident has been attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor,” the Treasury Department had said in a letter to US lawmakers.

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The hackers reportedly used a security key to gain remote access to certain systems.

Treasury officials noted that the compromised service had been taken offline, adding: “There is no evidence that the Chinese state actor still has access to Treasury information.”

An APT refers to a cyber-attack where an intruder establishes and maintains unauthorised access to a target, remaining undetected for a sustained period of time.

The department did not provide further details on what was affected by the breach, but said more information would be released in a supplemental report at a later date.

“Treasury takes very seriously all threats against our systems, and the data it holds,” the spokesperson added.

While China denies involvement in such attacks, this latest breach follows other cyber incidents linked to China, including a breach targeting US telecom networks.

China also emphasized its efforts to collaborate with the US on cybersecurity issues.

Several countries, notably the US, have voiced alarm in recent years at what they say is Chinese government-backed hacking activity targeting their governments, militaries and businesses.

Beijing rejects the allegations, and has previously said that it opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyber-attack.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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