'Significant Cyber Attack': Workstations at the U.S. Treasury were infiltrated by hackers supported by China
In a missive scrutinized by CNN, an authority from the Treasury Department revealed they were notified on December 8 by a third-party software service supplier that a malicious actor employed a pilfered digital key to remotely infiltrate selected Treasury workstations and unprotected documents.
"Given the accessible traces," penned Aditi Hardikar, assistant secretary for management at the Treasury, in the letter, "this episode is credited to a Chinese state-backed sophisticated persistent threat (APT) actor."
A Treasury representative shared with CNN that the compromised service has been deactivated and officials are collaborating with law enforcement and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
"At present, there's no indication suggesting the malicious actor still maintains access to Treasury systems or information," the Treasury representative stated.
This scenario continues to evolve and will be updated accordingly.
Despite the cyber attack, the Treasury department is actively investing in strengthening its business security measures to prevent future incidents. Recognizing the importance of cybersecurity in business operations, the Treasury is committed to ensuring the safety of its digital assets.
