US officials have reported that Chinese hackers have targeted the email accounts of Minister of Trade Gina Raymondo and other officials from the State Department and the Ministry of Trade. This hacking incident took place a few weeks prior to Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken’s visit to Beijing in June.
This cyber attack is the first to be identified by a cybersecurity group within the US State Department. Currently, an investigation is underway to determine the extent of the actions carried out by the Chinese hackers and their potential affiliation with China’s military or intelligence agencies.
While some sources suggest that the attack targeted specific mailboxes, US officials are downplaying the possibility of confidential information being stolen. They have stated that no classified emails or cloud systems were compromised.
The attacks began on May 15, 2023, and aimed at gaining access to mail accounts, impacting 25 organizations and a small number of individual user accounts.
Microsoft, who discovered the breach a month later on June 16, 2023, responded after a customer reported suspicious activity in their Microsoft mail accounts. The company promptly notified all affected organizations and agencies through their administrators. However, the specific organizations involved and the number of compromised accounts have not been disclosed.
In a statement, the State Department confirmed that they have taken measures to safeguard their systems and will remain vigilant to any further threats. They emphasized their commitment to monitoring and responding promptly.