US charges Chinese hackers who targeted dissidents
US prosecutors have charged 12 Chinese nationals for being part of an alleged hacking scheme, which sold data of US-based dissidents to the Chinese government
The "state-sponsored" operation also targeted government agencies including the Treasury, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).Hackers also allegedly targeted an American religious organisation, and a newspaper in Hong Kong, the statement added.China has not responded to these specific allegations, but have strongly denied other accusations in the pNo further details on the targeted US-based dissidents were provided.
The religious organisation hit by hackers was described as one which "previously sent missionaries to China and was openly critical of the PRC government". PRC is short for the People's Republic of China.A Hong Kong newspaper was also on the list. While it was not named, the statement said that it was "considered as being opposed to the PRC government".Besides US agencies, hackers were said to have targeted the foreign ministries of Taiwan, India, South Korea and Indonesia.Last October, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency saidast.
