Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Treasury: Inside the December Cyberattack
In a shocking turn of events, Chinese government-backed hackers reportedly set their sights on one of the United States’ most sensitive financial sectors. This cyberattack, which unfolded last December, specifically targeted the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the U.S. Treasury. The OFAC is crucial in imposing economic and trade sanctions against entities worldwide, making it a prime target for foreign cyber espionage.
- Objective: Access potential sanctions data on Chinese organizations
- Impact: Compromise of employee workstations and unclassified documents
- Affected Departments: Office of Financial Research and Office of the Treasury Secretary
The breach was labeled a “major cybersecurity incident” by officials at the Treasury.
{The Washington Post}
The incident came to light on December 8, thanks to an alert from BeyondTrust, a third-party provider specializing in identity management tools. Despite the seriousness of the breach, the U.S. Treasury has yet to provide further comments or responses to inquiries from TechCrunch.
This event underscores the ongoing challenges in cybersecurity for governmental bodies. It serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust security measures and constant vigilance against sophisticated cyber threats.
