According to an indictment unsealed by American prosecutors, a Chinese hacking group known as APT 31, which is linked to China’s Ministry of State Security, has been targeting thousands of U.S. and Western politicians, foreign policy experts, academics, journalists, and democracy activists between 2015 and 2024. Their focus extends beyond the primary targets themselves; they also target family members of these individuals.
The Art of Subtle Intrusion
Hackers employ a more subtle and insidious method: targeting family members through carefully crafted emails. These messages don’t contain malicious attachments or overt phishing attempts. Instead, they include harmless tracking links that, when clicked, reveal a treasure trove of information about the recipient.
Imagine a journalist covering sensitive political topics. Her elderly mother receives an email seemingly from a distant relative, sharing family photos. Innocent enough, right? But that seemingly harmless click reveals the journalist’s location, her device details, and even her browsing habits. Armed with this reconnaissance, the hackers can then launch more direct attacks on her devices, infiltrating her digital life.
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