The Biden administration is preparing to publicly accuse Chinese hackers of conducting hacks against US companies on behalf of China's spy agency. The hackers are expected to be named with photos, and a British accusation is also in the works. China has denied the allegations, and the US is focusing on cyber-espionage rather than disruptive attacks. The hackers are associated with a Wuhan-based technology company known as APT31 or Judgement Panda.
Key Points
Biden administration to publicly accuse Chinese hackers of hacking US companies
Hackers allegedly operate at the behest of China's Ministry of State Security
Expected criminal charges, sanctions, and rewards for information on hackers
Focus on cyber-espionage rather than disruptive cyberattacks
Hackers associated with a Wuhan-based technology company known as APT31 or Judgement Panda
Pros
Crackdown on Chinese hackers involved in cyber-espionage
Multimillion-dollar reward for information on hackers
International cooperation in addressing cyber threats
Cons
Potential escalation of tensions between US and China
Risk of retaliation from China in response to accusations