Team Blitz India
THE United States is taking a series of actions against APT 31, a cyber threat group connected to the government of the People’s Republic of China. A statement from the US State Department said that this group has targeted officials, politicians and campaign officials, various economic and defence entities and officials, as well as foreign democracy activists, academics, among others.
In the statement released on March 24, it announced a slew of actions initiated by the US government. It included criminal charges against seven hackers from China, imposing sanctions, and a reward of up to $10 million for information on the group.
The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging Ni Gaobin, Weng Ming, Cheng Feng, Peng Yaowen, Sun Xiaohui, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States (computer fraud).
Meanwhile, the US Department of the Treasury is sanctioning Zhao, Ni, and the Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, Limited (Wuhan XRZ), for their roles in malicious cyber activities targeting USA’s critical infrastructure sectors that present a significant threat to its national security.
Also, the US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on the group and the defendants. It seeks information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
“The activities of these PRC statesponsored actors have targeted U.S. defence and government sectors and the intellectual property and trade secrets of U.S. businesses. The United States will continue to disrupt the dangerous and irresponsible actions of these and other state-sponsored cyber actors,” the statement from the US State Department added.
