FBI seizes hacking tools used by Chinese government contractor

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 03:24 · Archive

The FBI has seized phishing tools used by hackers associated with the Chinese government in a campaign known as Flax Typhoon.

The FBI and Justice Department announced on Thursday that they have seized internet domains and rendered inoperable phishing tools used by hackers associated with the Chinese government. The hacking campaign, known to the private sector as Flax Typhoon, is believed responsible for disruptive cyber operations in the US and abroad.

The tools seized, called Microscan and FishHub, were operated by Chinese-based information security company Integrity Technology Group, which the FBI says has contracts with the Chinese government. Microscan was used to target an unnamed US power company, airports in Japan and Poland, Taiwanese universities, a multinational non-governmental organisation and Taiwanese critical infrastructure companies. FishHub was used to conduct phishing attacks that gave hackers remote access to victim networks.

FBI Cyber Division Deputy Assistant Director Jason Bilnoski told the Associated Press that the operation aims to disable the hackers' capabilities. He described the hacking operation as 'indiscriminate and reckless'. The seizure represents the latest law enforcement effort against the Flax Typhoon campaign; in September 2024, the FBI announced it had disrupted a botnet associated with the group that had infected more than 200,000 consumer devices including cameras, video recorders and routers.

How it is being reported

• 'Reckless': FBI seizes tools used by Chinese hackersThe Justice Department and FBI have seized internet domains supporting a major Chinese government contractor's hacking operations.Perth Now · 9 Oct, 02:51
• 'Reckless': FBI seizes tools used by Chinese hackersThe Justice Department and FBI have seized internet domains supporting a major Chinese government contractor's hacking operations.The West Australian · 9 Oct, 02:50

In this story: FBI · Justice Department · Integrity Technology Group · Flax Typhoon · United States · China · Taiwan · Japan

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem