A major cyberattack targeting several US government websites has raised fresh concerns over alleged Chinese state-backed hacking operations. The US Department of Justice said hackers used two platforms, identified as “Qscan” and “Qtrouter,” during the campaign.
According to American investigators, the platforms were developed by a company based in Nanjing, China. US authorities allege that the organisation has direct links to the Chinese government and military. The hacking infrastructure has reportedly been used against targets since 2018, with networks in several countries coming under attack.
Among the recent targets were websites associated with the US Department of Justice, NASA and the Federal Reserve. However, American officials said there was no indication of significant damage caused by the latest cyberattack.
The Trump administration has not confirmed whether any sensitive government documents were successfully stolen. Investigators, however, remain concerned about the scale and sophistication of the operation.
US authorities said the hackers attempted to conceal their activities by routing operations through networks located in more than 130 countries. This made it difficult for investigators to identify the attackers and trace the origin of the campaign.
China has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of cyberattacks attributed by US officials to Chinese hackers. Earlier this year, the FBI reportedly warned members of Congress about a major intrusion affecting its networks. Chinese cyber groups have also previously been accused of targeting US government agencies, congressional systems and major telecommunications companies.
