The United States has disrupted an alleged Chinese hacking operation that targeted several sensitive government agencies and critical infrastructure networks. US authorities said the campaign involved intrusions affecting the Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve and US Senate.
The Justice Department also seized domains linked to two hacking platforms called “QScan” and “QTRouter”. Officials said hackers used the platforms during the broader cyber campaign. An affidavit identified several additional victims. These included the Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services and National Institutes of Health.
Four unnamed companies in the United States and South Korea were also reportedly targeted.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation disrupted a “global botnet and hacking platform used by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to target US critical infrastructure”.
Chinese Firm Allegedly Linked to Platforms
The Justice Department said a China-based company operated the hacking platforms. Authorities identified the firm as Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company.
According to US officials, the company’s clients included China’s Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army. The FBI and Justice Department said the group’s infrastructure had been used to compromise sensitive networks since at least 2018.
The alleged attacks reportedly affected targets in the United States and other countries. However, Chinese authorities have not accepted responsibility for the reported activity. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Private Contractors Raise Cybersecurity Concerns
Cybersecurity experts who monitor Chinese cyber activity say private contractors often conduct sophisticated operations for government agencies.
Dakota Cary, a China analyst at cybersecurity company SentinelOne, highlighted the growth of such firms.
“Over the last decade, the number of companies offering niche offensive services has exploded,” Cary said.
According to US authorities, the latest disruption reflects continuing concerns over state-backed cyber operations. The United States and other countries have repeatedly accused China of targeting governments, militaries and businesses through cyberattacks.
Beijing has consistently rejected such allegations. Meanwhile, US authorities continue efforts to identify and disrupt infrastructure linked to suspected state-sponsored hacking campaigns.
The latest action demonstrates the growing focus on cyber threats targeting critical systems and sensitive government networks. It also highlights the challenges governments face in countering sophisticated hacking operations operating across international borders.
