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Cyberterrorism

China Accuses US of Cyberattacks on National Time Center, Citing Alleged Sensitive Data Theft

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

China on Sunday accused the U.S. National Security Agency of carrying out cyberattacks on its national time center, with potential disruptions to network communications, financial systems, and power supply. According to the Ministry of State Security, the U.S. agency exploited vulnerabilities in a foreign mobile phone brand's messaging services to steal sensitive information from devices of the National Time Service Center's staff in 2022. The U.S. agency allegedly used "special cyberattack weapons" to target the center's multiple internal network systems and attempted to infiltrate a key timing system between 2023 and 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • China's Ministry of State Security accused the U.S. National Security Agency of carrying out cyberattacks on the National Time Service Center in 2022, exploiting vulnerabilities in a foreign mobile phone brand's messaging services.
  • The alleged cyberattacks led to the theft of sensitive information from devices of the National Time Service Center's staff, with potential disruptions to network communications, financial systems, and power supply.
  • The U.S. agency allegedly used 42 types of "special cyberattack weapons" to target the center's multiple internal network systems and attempted to infiltrate a key timing system between 2023 and 2024.
  • China's Ministry of State Security stated that the time center is responsible for generating and distributing China's standard time, providing timing services to industries such as communications, finance, power, transport, and defense.
  • The U.S. Embassy in China did not immediately comment on the allegations.

Statistics:

  • 42 types of "special cyberattack weapons" allegedly used by the U.S. National Security Agency against the National Time Service Center.
  • 2022: the year the U.S. agency allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in a foreign mobile phone brand's messaging services to steal sensitive information from National Time Service Center staff devices.
  • 2023-2024: the period during which the U.S. agency allegedly used "special cyberattack weapons" to target the center's multiple internal network systems and attempted to infiltrate a key timing system.

Sources:

  • WeChat post by China's Ministry of State Security
  • AP news wire China
  • The Associated Press

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