Chinese hackers infiltrate Indian government immigration data: Report
According to a report, a Chinese company successfully hacked and breached almost 100 gigabytes of Indian immigration data
Hacking groups originating in China have penetrated 95.2 gigabytes of immigration records from the Indian government, marking India as a key focus for Beijing-based hackers, as per an investigation conducted by The Washington Post.
According to The Washington Post’s recent report, Chinese state-affiliated hacking collectives have disclosed a significant cache of documents, targeting various foreign entities such as governments, corporations, and critical infrastructure, through widespread cyber assaults.
The report highlights that these hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities within software systems supplied by prominent companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
The published cache, comprising over 570 files, images, and chat logs, provides an unparalleled insight into the modus operandi of firms engaged by Chinese government entities for large-scale, on-demand data collection operations.
The leaked files, posted on GitHub and authenticated by cybersecurity experts, divulge contracts outlining cyber intrusion strategies targeting 20 foreign governments, including India, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Malaysia. The implicated company, ISoon, based in Shanghai, is known for offering third-party hacking and data acquisition services to state-owned entities and Chinese government agencies, as reported by The Post.
According to SentinelLabs researchers, ISoon has also compromised “democracy organizations” in Hong Kong, universities, and even the NATO military alliance.
Regarding the Indian immigration data breach, The Washington Post notes that a leaked ISoon document includes a spreadsheet enumerating 80 potential targets for cyber attacks, among which India has already fallen victim.
As per the report, the spreadsheet contains details of 95.2 gigabytes of immigration data from India, along with a collection of call logs totaling 3 terabytes from South Korea’s LG U Plus telecom provider. Despite ISoon’s official website becoming inaccessible since Thursday morning, the leaked documents attest to the company’s internal communication access, including email correspondence from foreign companies and government offices.
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