US unseals indictments against Chinese hackers, Malaysian businessmen

United States on September 16 unsealed charges against five Chinese hackers who are accused of hacking into over 100 companies from across world. US also charged two Malaysian businessmen who allegedly conspired with two of Chinese hackers to profit from computer intrusions targeting companies, universities, foreign governments, and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. 

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"In August 2019 and August 2020, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned two separate indictments charging five computer hackers, all of whom were residents and nationals of People's Republic of China (PRC). In August 2020, same federal grand jury returned a third indictment charging two Malaysian businessmen who conspired with two of Chinese hackers to profit from computer intrusions targeting video game industry in United States and abroad," US Department of Justice said on Wednesday.   

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Chinese hackers on run

United States says that whereabouts of five Chinese nationals remain unkwn and accuses Chinese Communist government of providing safe haven to hackers. Meanwhile, two Malaysian residents Wong Ong Hua, 46, and Ling Yang Ching, 32, were arrested on September 14, and US seeking ir extradition. 

" Department of Justice has used every tool available to disrupt illegal computer intrusions and cyberattacks by se Chinese citizens. Regrettably, Chinese communist party has chosen a different path of making China safe for cybercriminals so long as y attack computers outside China and steal intellectual property helpful to China,"  said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen.

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Chinese hackers reportedly targeted video-game companies in United States and abroad, compromised government computer networks in India and Vietnam, and targeted government computers but did t succeed in United Kingdom. se hackers participated in a “Video Game Conspiracy,” toger y sought to make money by hacking video game companies, obtaining and orwise generating digital items of value (e.g., video game currency), and n selling such items for profit, said DOJ. 

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