GPS News
CYBER WARS
China-based 'Flax Typhoon' hackers targeting Taiwan govt: Microsoft
China-based 'Flax Typhoon' hackers targeting Taiwan govt: Microsoft
by AFP Staff Writers
Taipei, Taiwan (AFP) Aug 25, 2023

A China-based hacking group named "Flax Typhoon" has targeted dozens of Taiwanese government agencies with the likely aim of spying on them, Microsoft has revealed.

Taiwan has long accused China -- which claims the self-ruled island as its territory -- of espionage through cyberattacks on its government networks.

Microsoft said Thursday that Flax Typhoon, "a nation-state actor based out of China", has since mid-2021 mainly "targeted government agencies and education, critical manufacturing, and information technology organizations in Taiwan".

The activities observed suggest "the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access to organizations across a broad range of industries for as long as possible," the US tech giant said in a blog post.

"However, Microsoft has not observed Flax Typhoon act on final objectives in this campaign."

China has long vowed to take Taiwan -- by force if necessary -- and has stepped up military and political pressure on the island.

In addition to government agencies, Microsoft said Flax Typhoon has also targeted "critical manufacturing and information technology organizations in Taiwan".

The firm said outside of Taiwan, there were some Flax Typhoon "victims" in Southeast Asia, North America and Africa.

Last month, Microsoft said China-based hackers seeking intelligence had breached the email accounts of a number of US government agencies.

That hacking group -- which Microsoft called Storm-0558 -- primarily focuses on "espionage, data theft, and credential access".

The company also warned this year that state-sponsored Chinese hackers had infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks, saying this was likely aimed at hampering the United States during a conflict.

Microsoft made particular mention of Guam, a US Pacific territory with a vital military base, as a target.

Authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain have also warned that Chinese hacking is likely taking place globally, affecting an extensive range of infrastructure.

Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CYBER WARS
Historic UK codebreaking base to host 'world first' AI safety summit
London (AFP) Aug 24, 2023
Britain will host a two-day international summit in November to explore how artificial intelligence can be safely developed, the government said on Thursday. The "world first" gathering will be held on November 1-2 at Bletchley Park, where top British codebreakers cracked Nazi Germany's "Enigma" code, hastening the end of World War II. It is also the home of the National Museum of Computing, home to the world's largest collection of working historic computers. The planned event comes as expe ... read more

CYBER WARS
Acai berry craze: boon or threat for the Amazon?

Squeezed out: Bulgaria lavender oil makers fear EU laws

'Animals are thirsty': Dust and bones on Turkey's shrinking lake

Heat stress could threaten health of one billion cows

CYBER WARS
Scientists develop fermionic quantum processor

DNA chips as storage media of the future: What challenges need to be overcome

Chip giant Nvidia rides AI wave as profits soar

British chip champion Arm files to go public in US

CYBER WARS
11 hospitalized as flight hits turbulence en route to Atlanta

France calls for minimum price on European flights

Planning algorithm enables high-performance flight

Eight US Marines in hospital after deadly Australia crash

CYBER WARS
London vehicle pollution toll zone expands despite controversy

Chinese carmakers confront European industry at Munich show

Glitch halts Toyota factories in Japan

China EV giant XPeng to buy rival for more than $740 million

CYBER WARS
Nicaragua to export tariff-free to China from 2024

Chinese developer Country Garden faces crunch vote on debt repayment

China's Xi to skip G20 summit, EU official says

Markets largely rise as traders prepare for US jobs data

CYBER WARS
Voluntary deforestation carbon credits failing: study

In Colombia, a community wins fight to protect a slice of paradise

UN-backed deforestation carbon credits failing: study

Tropical forests nearing critical temperatures thresholds

CYBER WARS
Sensing city night heat from space

Spire participates in Prize to advance measurements of Earth's Magnetic Field

Scientists zoom in on the Asian monsoon season using satellite data

Atmospheric circulation weakens following volcanic eruptions

CYBER WARS
World Nano Foundation highlights nanotech's role in space materials science

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.