US says Chinese hackers broke into DOJ, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate

Key Points:

• U.S. officials disrupted a Chinese state-sponsored hacking operation linked to cyber intrusions at key U.S. agencies including the Justice Department, Energy Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, and the Senate by seizing domains used by two hacking platforms, QScan and QTRouter.
• The hacking group, QTFY, operated by China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company, allegedly created and used these platforms to infiltrate U.S. networks and conceal their activities, targeting critical infrastructure and government entities.
• The Chinese embassy denied the allegations, condemning the U.S. for using cybersecurity issues to discredit China and vowed to protect Chinese companies against punitive measures.
• U.S. officials emphasized ongoing efforts to combat state-sponsored cyberattacks, with DOJ and FBI playing key roles in dismantling malicious software and botnets, though damage assessments remain classified.
• Experts note this disruption highlights China's sophisticated and pervasive hacking ecosystem, which includes commercial entities supporting state efforts, and reflects a broader cyber "cat-and-mouse" dynamic between the U.S. and China.