Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Treasury, Stealing Sensitive Data Amid Growing Tensions

According to a recent report, Chinese hackers have successfully infiltrated U.S. Treasury Department systems and stolen sensitive information.

On Monday, AFP revealed that the hackers initially compromised a Treasury cybersecurity contractor. Using this access, they remotely breached Treasury systems and exfiltrated several documents.

Officials have clarified that the stolen data is not classified. However, the breach underscores significant vulnerabilities in critical government systems. After the contractor discovered the breach, the Treasury Department immediately alerted the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a Department of Homeland Security division. Treasury officials are now working closely with law enforcement to assess the full extent of the breach.

In a briefing to the Senate Banking Committee, Treasury representatives indicated that the attack resembles an Advanced Persistent Threat group believed to be sponsored by the Chinese government.

This incident follows a series of widespread cyberattacks by Chinese hackers against multiple U.S. telecommunications companies last month. Security experts warn that such activities may intensify as the U.S. approaches a potential change in administration.

On November 13, authorities disclosed that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had penetrated the networks of several telecom providers and accessed customer call records. The attackers reportedly targeted individuals with connections to government and political circles, though specific companies were not named.

In a separate incident this October, Chinese hackers allegedly targeted the mobile devices of high-profile political figures, including Donald Trump, Senate candidate J.D. Vance, Trump family members, and staffers from Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign team.