Fears Chinese hackers are spying on YOUR computer as they exploit working from home to steal company secrets
CHINESE hackers could be hacking into your computer while you work from home — and use it as a back door to steal your company’s secrets.
Beijing’s cyber henchmen are said to be exploiting the Covid pandemic that began in its own country to rinse the West of its valuable know-how.
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The sinister warning comes from the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) which discovered China state hackers are targeting home routers as part of a massive cyber theft blitz to steal ideas they can then rip off.
It comes as MI5’s top boss will warn Britons to be on their guard about spying and hostile state attacks from the likes of China and Russia in the same way they are about terrorism.
ANSSI said the Chinese hacking group — known in security circles as APT31 — is targeting less secure household routers used by staff working from home as a way of breaking into their employers.
The agency warned: “[We] are currently handling a large intrusion campaign.
“Attacks are still ongoing and are led by an intrusion by APT31.
“It appears from our investigations that the threat actor uses a network of compromised home routers as operational relay boxes in order to perform stealth reconnaissance as well as attacks.”
The threat actor uses a network of compromised home routers as operational relay boxes in order to perform stealth reconnaissance
National Cybersecurity Agency of France
Crucially, this method allows them to steal secrets without companies and organisations knowing it has happened.
On Monday UK’s National Cyber Security Centre said APT31 was sponsored by the Chinese government and had recently hacked Microsoft Exchange servers.
These are commonly used by people working from home, especially for email.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “The cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange Server by Chinese state-backed groups was a reckless but familiar pattern of behaviour.
“The Chinese Government must end this systematic cyber sabotage and can expect to be held to account if it does not.”
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