Chinese hackers have become the main threat to tech companies worldwide — CrowdStrike
Over the past year, Chinese hacking groups have become the biggest espionage threat to global technology companies. Against the backdrop of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and record-breaking investments in the industry, cyberattacks on the technology sector have intensified significantly.
This is stated in the annual report by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
According to the study, companies involved in artificial intelligence development, semiconductor manufacturing, software production, and IT services are of the greatest interest to attackers.
CrowdStrike believes that the activity of Chinese hackers aligns with Beijing’s strategic goals regarding technological development and gaining access to valuable intellectual property.
The company’s Senior Vice President, Adam Meyers, stated that an “arms race” in the field of artificial intelligence is effectively underway between the U.S. and China. According to him, the Chinese government aims to achieve global leadership in this sector by 2030.
The report also notes that U.S. authorities have previously accused China-linked entities of attempting to copy U.S.-developed artificial intelligence models.
At the same time, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has rejected the accusations. The diplomatic mission stated that the PRC opposes any hacking attacks and combats them in accordance with the country’s laws.
In addition to China, the report’s authors cite North Korean, Iranian, and Russian hacker groups among the main cyber threats.
In particular, CrowdStrike highlighted the activities of North Korean operatives who use fake identities to secure employment at foreign technology companies. According to the researchers, the access they gain allows them to collect intelligence and fund the regime in Pyongyang.
Experts also noted an increase in activity by financially motivated cybercriminals. The number of offers to sell access to technology companies’ networks on hacker forums has increased by 30% over the past year.
Source: Reuters.
As a reminder, the Russian hacking group Fancy Bear, which is linked to Russian military intelligence, hacked more than 280 email accounts of government and military institutions in NATO countries and the Balkans.
Prior to this, hackers gained access to data from the booking site Booking.com, the company reported. The attackers were able to obtain information about customer bookings, and some users received emails on Sunday notifying them of a possible data breach.
