The US government announced on Wednesday (August 21) that it had thwarted computer intrusions carried out by hackers with state backing from China, naming NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the US Senate among the victims.
The announcement comes amid escalating cybersecurity tensions between the two superpowers. According to US officials, the attacks targeted critical federal government agencies, underscoring the scale and sophistication of the campaign conducted by the Chinese side.
US officials said the cyber espionage activity was detected and neutralized promptly before causing serious damage. However, the specific identities of the hacker groups and the exact timing of the attacks have not been disclosed in detail.
NASA, the US space agency, along with the Fed – the central bank that oversees monetary policy – and the Senate are all sensitive targets, containing vast amounts of important scientific, financial, and political data. Their targeting indicates a broad and deliberate attack campaign.
So far, China has not issued an official response to Washington's accusations. Analysts view the US move to release this information as an effort to warn and increase diplomatic pressure amid a delicate phase in bilateral relations.
