FBI warns businesses of Chinese hacking

The FBI is warning U.S. businesses of recent “cyber espionage” by a group believed to be affiliated with the Chinese government, according to Reuters. 

The bureau on Wednesday said it and other security firms have recently seen attacks and asked businesses to contact the FBI if they are also targeted. 

{mosads}The advisory was sent to businesses in what is described as a “flash” warning obtained by Reuters. A number of similar advisories have been logged in the past. 

Security firms have released “defensive information” on the attacks and the FBI described the hacking techniques used by what it called “a group of Chinese Government affiliated cyber actors who routinely steal high-value information from U.S. commercial and government networks through cyber espionage.”

FBI Director James Comey recently compared Chinese hackers to “drunken burglars,” asserting they are prolific but relatively easy to spot. A report released last year by the security firm Mandiant found at least 141 businesses had been hit by a specific Chinese military group alone. 

The FBI in May charged five members of the People’s Liberation Army with cyber spying for targeting a range of U.S. companies, though it is unlikely the Chinese-based individuals will ever be tried in the United States.