China on Monday accused the United States of hacking into computers at a university where, according to U.S. authorities, military research is conducted, adding to concerns by both governments about extensive online eavesdropping against each other.
In June, Northwestern Polytechnic University reported computer intrusions, according to the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center. It was stated that the center, in collaboration with a commercial security firm, Qihoo 360 Technology Co., tracked the attacks to the National Security Agency, but it was not specified how this was accomplished.
China and the United States are, along with Russia, regarded as global leaders in cyberwarfare research.
China accuses the United States of conducting espionage against colleges, energy businesses, internet companies, and other targets. The United States accuses China of stealing trade secrets and has filed criminal charges against Chinese military members.
The U.S. activities “gravely threaten China’s national security,” according to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry. She also claimed that the United States spied on Chinese mobile phones and stole text messages.
Mao stated, “China strongly rejects it.” “The United States must immediately cease exploiting its advantages to steal secrets and launch attacks against other nations.”
The United States Embassy in Beijing did not reply quickly to a request for comment.
According to security experts, the People’s Liberation Army, the military wing of the ruling Communist Party, and the Ministry of State Security also sponsor outside hackers.
A photograph shot on September 5, 2022, depicts the Northwestern Polytechnical University campus in the Beilin district of Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China. Future Publishing by way of Getty Images
Northwestern Polytechnical University, located in the western city of Xi’an, is on a “entity list” maintained by the U.S. government, which restricts its access to American technology. The university, according to Washington, assists the PLA in the development of airborne and undersea drones and missile technology.
The statement released on Monday accused the United States of stealing information regarding the university’s network management and other “core technology.” It was reported that Chinese analysts discovered 41 “network assault” tools that were traced to the NSA.
A federal court in Boston sentenced a Chinese man, Shuren Qin, to two years in jail after he pleaded guilty to illegally exporting underwater and marine technologies to Northwestern Polytechnic University.
The National Security Agency (NSA), which is part of the Department of Defense, is responsible for “signals intelligence,” or the collection of communications and other data.
The Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, which was established in 1996 by the police department of the eastern Chinese city of Tianjin, advertises itself as the Chinese institution in charge of the examination and testing of anti-computer virus products.
In 2020, according to a research by Qihoo 360, hacking tools used in attacks on Chinese companies and government organizations between 2008 and 2019 were traceable to the Central Intelligence Agency by comparing their code to that of CIA hacking tools published by the Wikileaks group.
The virus center accused the NSA of conducting other “malicious network attacks” in China, but did not provide any further information. It was stated that thirteen attackers had been identified.
According to the statement, the hackers targeted a “zero-day,” or previously undisclosed, security flaw in the institution. According to the report, the intrusions originated from servers in 17 nations, including Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Poland, Ukraine, and Colombia.
The statement referenced NSA software tools with names like “Second Date” and “Drinking Tea” but did not specify which may have been used at the institution.