Ethical Hacking News
The US Department of the Treasury has sanctioned two entities linked to Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups in an effort to disrupt their financial networks and limit their ability to operate in the United States. The move comes after a recent breach at the US Treasury, which was attributed to hackers from China. To combat these threats, the US government has imposed sanctions on a Shanghai-based hacker and a Chinese cybersecurity firm with alleged ties to the Salt Typhoon state hacker group.
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on two entities linked to Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups.The sanctioned individuals and entities include a Shanghai-based hacker with alleged ties to the People's Republic of China Ministry of State Security, as well as a Chinese cybersecurity firm believed to be directly involved with a known state hacker group.A recent breach at the US Treasury was attributed to hackers from China, who exploited a zero-day vulnerability in a remote support platform and stole sensitive information.The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the US government to counter Chinese cyber threats and disrupt the activities of hacking groups sponsored by the Chinese state.Sanctions block property and financial assets located in the United States or held by U.S. entities, as well as prohibit transactions with sanctioned entities without explicit authorization from OFAC.The US government has imposed numerous sanctions on Chinese entities linked to cyber threats in recent years, highlighting its ongoing commitment to combating these threats.
The United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to combat cyber threats by imposing sanctions on two entities linked to Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups. The move comes after a recent breach at the US Treasury, which was attributed to hackers from China. In this article, we will delve into the details of the sanctions imposed and explore the implications of this development.
The sanctioned individuals and entities include Yin Kecheng, a Shanghai-based hacker with alleged ties to the People's Republic of China Ministry of State Security (MSS), as well as Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., Ltd. This Chinese cybersecurity firm is believed to be directly involved with the Salt Typhoon state hacker group. The sanctions imposed on these entities are part of a broader effort by the US government to counter Chinese cyber threats and disrupt the activities of hacking groups sponsored by the Chinese state.
The breach at the US Treasury, which occurred in December 2024, was attributed to hackers who exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the remote support platform BeyondTrust. The attack was targeted specifically at the sanctions office within the department, suggesting that the hackers had a specific goal in mind. According to reports, the attackers were able to gain access to sensitive information and steal confidential communications of high-profile targets.
The US Treasury's announcement on the sanctions comes after a recent trend of Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups targeting major U.S. telecommunications and internet service providers. These attacks have been linked to the Salt Typhoon group, which has also been responsible for several breaches at U.S. government agencies and private sector organizations. The hackers involved in these attacks are believed to be part of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), which is responsible for conducting foreign intelligence operations.
The sanctions imposed on Yin Kecheng and Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., Ltd. block all property and financial assets located in the United States or held by U.S. entities, as well as prohibit U.S. entities from conducting transactions with these sanctioned entities without explicit authorization from OFAC. This move aims to disrupt the financial networks used by Chinese hackers and limit their ability to operate in the United States.
It is worth noting that this sanctions are not an isolated incident. In recent years, the US government has imposed numerous sanctions on Chinese entities linked to cyber threats. These sanctions have been part of a broader effort to counter China's growing cyber capabilities and disrupt its efforts to conduct foreign intelligence operations through hacking.
In addition to the sanctions imposed on Yin Kecheng and Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., Ltd., the US Treasury has also offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification and prosecution of hackers who have targeted the U.S. government or critical infrastructure in the country. This move reflects the ongoing commitment by the US government to combat Chinese cyber threats and protect its national security interests.
In conclusion, the sanctions imposed on Yin Kecheng and Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., Ltd. are a significant development in the ongoing effort to counter Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups. The move aims to disrupt the financial networks used by these hackers and limit their ability to operate in the United States. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more sanctions imposed on entities linked to Chinese cyber threats.
Related Information:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-sanctions-chinese-firm-hacker-behind-telecom-and-treasury-hacks/
https://apnews.com/article/china-treasury-department-hacking-745b111710316322c4173822889c276e
Published: Fri Jan 17 12:00:44 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
