Microsoft Brushes Chinese Hackers Targeting Data Stealing In 29 Countries Through Websites

JAKARTA - Microsoft has taken control of a number of websites from a Chinese government-backed hacker group to target organizations in 29 countries, including the United States (US).

Microsoft's Digital Crime Unit (DCI) said that a federal court in Virginia had ordered the company to control 42 websites and direct traffic to Microsoft's servers.

"This malicious website is used by a state-sponsored hacker group known as Nickel, or APT15, to gather intelligence from government agencies, think tanks, and human rights organizations," said Tom Burt, corporate vice president at Microsoft.

Citing CNN International, Wednesday, December 8, Microsoft's actions are part of a broader effort by US technology companies and government agencies to expose sophisticated digital espionage campaigns before they do too much damage.

Microsoft admits, it has been tracking Nickel since 2016 and noted that the hacking group's method was to introduce hard-to-detect malware to facilitate intrusion, surveillance and data theft.

Nickel activity sometimes accomplishes that via compromised virtual private networks, data obtained from spear-phishing attacks or exploits targeting Exchange Server and on-premises SharePoint systems that have not been patched.

Unfortunately, Microsoft is reluctant to reveal who the organizations targeted in this hacking campaign are. But the tech giant said Chinese hackers have a history of trying to collect sensitive data from diplomatic organizations and foreign ministries across North and South America, as well as in Europe and Africa.

In 2017, Chinese hackers breached a British government contractor to seek information on military technology, and stole sensitive documents in the process.

In this latest case, this is the latest example of how Microsoft and other powerful tech companies have exposed the fact that foreign spies sometimes use US infrastructure in their hacking efforts.

Image Credit: Mika Baumeister / UnsplashLink:https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/microsoft-china-hacking-court-order/index.html

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