US says Chinese hackers broke into Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate

The U.S. government has thwarted a Chinese hacking operation that targeted key agencies, including the Justice Department, NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the Senate. The Justice Department stated that it has seized domains associated with two hacking platforms, QScan and QTRouter, which were utilized in the campaign. The platforms were operated by a Chinese firm, Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company, which reportedly served clients such as China's civilian intelligence agency and the People's Liberation Army.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed the allegations, asserting that they firmly oppose all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with their laws. The Chinese government also criticized the U.S. for overextending the concept of national security and using it to impose discriminatory restrictions on Chinese companies. The hacking attempts began in 2018, with the hackers using their own tools to compromise critical infrastructure and sensitive networks worldwide.

Although not all attempts were successful, the hackers targeted NASA in August 2019, intruded into Energy Department laboratories, the NIH, an unnamed HHS agency, and a U.S. security device manufacturer in September 2024. The FBI and other U.S. cybersecurity agencies have documented multiple hacking efforts over the past years, including successful data theft from defense contractors, financial institutions, and universities in May 2024.