Revealed: China’s Private Firms Unveiled in Hacking Operations
A recent leak has shed light on China’s use of private companies in hacking operations, targeting foreign governments and controlling its own population. The leaked documents expose the workings of a Chinese security firm named I-Soon, which offers various hacking services for a price.
According to the leaked documents, I-Soon provided a range of services, from accessing private websites to running disinformation campaigns and obtaining personal information from social media platforms. These services were sold to clients, including local governments in China, at prices ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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The leaked data also revealed an extensive eight-year effort by China to infiltrate databases and monitor communications in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and India. Additionally, there were indications of surveillance targeting ethnic minorities within China and online gambling companies.
Experts who analyzed the leaked documents confirmed their authenticity, highlighting I-Soon’s ties to various Chinese government entities, including the Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army. This collaboration suggests a coordinated effort by China to conduct cyberespionage both domestically and internationally.
The leak underscores China’s persistent disregard for efforts to curb its hacking activities, despite warnings from American officials about the escalating cybersecurity threats posed by Chinese hackers. The use of private contractors in these operations mirrors tactics employed by countries like Iran and Russia, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness and control.
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The leak also reveals the challenges faced by Chinese hacking contractors, including amateurishness and difficulties in coordinating with government agencies. Despite these challenges, the leaked data provides valuable insights for agencies and companies seeking to defend against Chinese cyberattacks.
