U.S. Charges 12 Chinese Hackers for Global Cyber Attacks

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U.S. Charges 12 Chinese Hackers for Global Cyber Attacks \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The U.S. Justice Department has charged 12 Chinese nationals, including mercenary hackers and law enforcement officers, for their roles in global cybercrime operations. The hackers-for-hire targeted dissidents, media outlets, U.S. agencies, and universities, often working on behalf of China’s government. One case details the I-Soon hacking company, which allegedly sold stolen data to Chinese authorities. Another indictment links Chinese hackers to breaches of U.S. tech firms and government agencies.

U.S. Charges Chinese Hackers for Cyberattacks Quick Looks

DOJ announced charges against 12 Chinese nationals, including mercenary hackers and law enforcement officers.
The hacking-for-hire operation targeted U.S. agencies, universities, dissidents, and media organizations.
One indictment focuses on I-Soon, a Shanghai-based private hacking company accused of stealing data for China’s government.
I-Soon allegedly charged the Chinese government $10,000 to $75,000 per hacked email inbox.
China’s Ministry of Public Security reportedly directed some of the hacking campaigns.
The U.S. Treasury Department was among the targets, suffering a major cybersecurity breach last year.
The U.S. State Department is offering a $2 million reward for information leading to the arrest of two Chinese hackers.
China denies the allegations, calling them a “smear” campaign with no credible evidence.
The indictment highlights China’s growing hacking industry, where private contractors profit from state-sponsored cyberespionage.
The DOJ warns that cyber threats from China are escalating, posing a significant national security risk.

Deep Look

U.S. Charges Chinese Hackers for Cyberattacks on Dissidents, Agencies & Companies

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed multiple indictments Wednesday, accusing 12 Chinese nationals of orchestrating global cyberattacks that targeted:

U.S. government agencies, including the Defense Intelligence Agency and Treasury Department.
American universities and research institutions.
Chinese dissidents and religious groups in the United States.
News organizations critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

These indictments reveal new details about China’s “hacking-for-hire” industry, where private companies and individual hackers sell stolen data to Beijing.

“China’s state security forces use these hackers as a shield,” said a senior DOJ official. “They outsource cyberattacks to provide deniability while expanding their intelligence network.”

I-Soon: The Private Hacking Company at the Center of the Case

One of the key indictments targets I-Soon, a Shanghai-based cybersecurity company that has secretly worked for the Chinese government since its founding in 2010.

I-Soon’s founder, Wu Haibo, is accused of directing cyberattacks worldwide.
The firm reportedly hacked U.S. media outlets, religious groups, and dissidents.
China’s Ministry of Public Security allegedly hired I-Soon to target specific individuals and organizations.
The company charged between $10,000 and $75,000 per hacked email inbox, according to U.S. officials.

A Secretive & Profitable Operation

Earlier AP investigations showed I-Soon mostly targeted India, Taiwan, and Mongolia, but the indictment reveals U.S.-based victims.
Some I-Soon hackers also acted independently, stealing data before selling it back to the Chinese government.
The company had direct communication with Beijing’s intelligence services, according to U.S. prosecutors.

Phone numbers listed for I-Soon rang unanswered, and the company did not respond to AP’s request for comment.

China Denies Involvement, Calls U.S. Allegations “Baseless”

China’s embassy in Washington dismissed the charges, with spokesperson Liu Pengyu saying:

“We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude and base their characterization of cyber incidents on sufficient evidence rather than groundless speculation and accusations.”

China has repeatedly denied state-sponsored hacking, despite mounting evidence from:

U.S. intelligence agencies.
Cybersecurity firms tracking Chinese-linked intrusions.
Past DOJ cases linking hackers to Beijing.

Other Indictments: Chinese Hackers Targeting U.S. Technology & Defense

A separate case filed in Washington D.C. accuses two Chinese hackers—Yin Kecheng and Zhou Shuai—of running a for-profit hacking ring.

Their operation targeted U.S. defense contractors, think tanks, tech companies, and health care systems.
One of their high-profile targets was the U.S. Treasury Department, which suffered a major cybersecurity breach last year.
The U.S. has placed sanctions on individuals linked to these cyberattacks.

In response, the State Department has offered a $2 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Yin and Zhou.

China’s Expanding Cyber Espionage Industry

China’s demand for foreign intelligence has skyrocketed in the last two decades, fueling a booming industry of private hacking contractors.

Companies like I-Soon act as middlemen, allowing Beijing to outsource cyberattacks while avoiding direct blame.
U.S. cybersecurity experts estimate that China-linked hackers have breached hundreds of global systems in recent years.
The I-Soon case exposes the scale of China’s hacking industry, with multiple firms profiting from espionage activities.

A senior U.S. official warned:

“The cyber threat from China is no longer just a government operation—it’s a business model.”

What’s Next? The U.S. Response to China’s Cyber Threats

The DOJ’s indictments are part of a broader U.S. effort to combat Chinese cyberespionage.

Key actions so far:

Sanctions on Chinese hacking firms and individuals. 
Bounties on indicted hackers through the State Department. 
Cybersecurity collaborations with allies to counteract China’s growing cyber capabilities.

Despite these efforts, the U.S. faces an uphill battle, as China’s hacking-for-hire model continues to evolve.

Conclusion: A Landmark Case in Cybersecurity Warfare

The U.S. indictments of 12 Chinese nationals mark one of the largest cybercrime cases linked to China in recent years.

China’s cyber espionage industry is more sophisticated than ever, blending state-sponsored operations with private-sector hackers-for-hire.
I-Soon’s activities reveal a disturbing trend—where hacking firms profit by selling stolen data to Beijing.
The DOJ’s crackdown sends a strong message, but experts warn that China’s cyber threats are far from over.

As cyber warfare becomes a critical battleground, the question remains:

Can the U.S. successfully deter China’s growing cyber army?