GOP lawmaker claims Chinese spies hacked him.
Chinese State-Linked Hackers Breach Microsoft Systems and Target Congressman’s Emails
In a shocking revelation, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) disclosed that Chinese state-linked hackers had infiltrated his personal and campaign emails. The cyberattack took place between May 15 and June 16, exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft software. Mr. Bacon emphasized that this breach was not a result of user error and highlighted that there were other victims of this hacking operation. He condemned the Chinese Communist government, stating that they are actively engaged in cyber espionage.
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The Chinese hackers targeted 25 organizations using the Microsoft server, including email accounts of the State and Commerce departments. Notable officials affected by this breach include U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Even Nina Shea, the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at Hudson Institute, fell victim to this campaign.
Mr. Bacon’s office learned about the hack through an FBI call on Monday. It remains unclear if other members of Congress were also targeted. The FBI declined to comment on the matter.
On June 16, the same day Microsoft initiated an investigation into the cyberattack, Mr. Bacon received an alert from the Microsoft Network (MSN) notifying him that his account may have been compromised. He promptly changed his password but did not give the issue further consideration.
The motive behind the Chinese hackers’ actions remains uncertain. However, Mr. Bacon’s vocal support for Taiwan is believed to have drawn Beijing’s attention. Taiwan, a democratic self-ruled island, is currently awaiting $19 billion in weapon purchases from the United States to defend itself against a potential invasion by China’s communist regime. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Mr. Bacon pledged to ensure that Taiwan receives every dollar of the weapons backlog they’ve ordered.
This breach has shed light on the vulnerability of relying solely on a single technology provider like Microsoft. Adam Meyers, the head of intelligence for cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, warned about the risks associated with depending on a monolithic vendor for all technology, products, services, and security.
Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) recently summoned Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for a briefing on the targeted Chinese cyber intrusion. In a letter, China was described as the only country with the intent and power to reshape the international order. The incident revealed the Chinese regime’s highly sophisticated and stealthy cyber espionage tactics.
In response to the breach, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, demanded separate investigations into Microsoft’s negligent cybersecurity practices by the Justice Department and two civil regulators—the Federal Trade Commission Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Safety Review Board has also agreed to examine the hack.
In a separate investigation conducted by cybersecurity firm Mandiant, it was revealed that state-backed Chinese hackers had breached the networks of numerous public and private sector organizations worldwide. Government agencies, including foreign ministries, accounted for one-third of the impacted entities.
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