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The Biden administration accused China of using criminal contract hackers to carry out malicious activities around the world.
By Natasha Bertrand, Kevin Liptak and Brian Fung, CNN
The Biden administration has been debating internally whether and how to impose sanctions on China for its malfeasance in cyberspace, according to people familiar with the matter, as experts question why the White House has not gone further in penalizing China for its alleged hack of Microsoft’s email system in the spring.
The Biden administration and a coalition of international allies accused China on Monday of using “criminal contract hackers” to carry out malicious activities around the world but stopped short of penalizing Beijing with sanctions or diplomatic expulsions, in stark contrast to how the administration has responded to similar malign behavior by Russia in the past several months.
This targeted thousands of computers and networks worldwide, including Australia, she told reporters on Tuesday. It opened the door for cyber-criminals to exploit the private sector for illicit gain. All countries, including China, should act responsibly in cyber-space.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra.
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Ms Andrews described the hacking activity as a significant data breach , which enabled the systems affected to be externally controlled.
The hack was first identified in January this year, with the minister labelling them a timely reminder of the need for businesses and individuals to enhance their cyber security protections.
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Groundless, irresponsible : China fires back at NZ after cyber attack accusation Newshub 2 hrs ago What to watch next
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The New Zealand Government s accusation that Chinese state-sponsored actors are behind malicious cyber activity in Aotearoa is groundless and irresponsible , according to the Chinese Embassy in Wellington.
In a coordinated condemnation of China overnight, New Zealand, the United States, the UK, Australia and other international partners said a Chinese state-sponsored entity called Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT 40) is linked to malicious activity in New Zealand and around the world. The GCSB has worked through a robust technical attribution process in relation to this activity, said Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) Minister Andrew Little. New Zealand is today joining other countries in strongly condemning this malicious activity undertaken by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) – both in New
Government accuses China of state-sponsored cyber attacks
GCSB Minister Andrew Little. (Photo / George Heard)
Government accuses China of state-sponsored cyber attacks
The Government says it has uncovered evidence of Chinese state-sponsored cyber attacks in New Zealand.
GCSB Minister Andrew Little said that the foreign intelligence agency has established links between Chinese state-sponsored actors known as Advanced Persistent Threat 40 (APT40) and malicious cyber activity in New Zealand.
The GCSB had worked through a robust technical attribution process to establish its conclusions, Little said.
He said the Government is joining other countries in strongly condemning what the Chinese Ministry of State Security has been doing both in New Zealand and globally.