Chinese Hackers Target U.S. Treasury Sanctions Office
In December 2024, Chinese state-sponsored hackers targeted the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This office manages sanctions against countries and individuals. The hackers aimed to access sensitive information about potential sanctions on Chinese organizations. AI-powered phishing is a growing concern.
The attack also affected the Office of Financial Research and the Office of the Treasury Secretary. The hackers gained access to employee workstations and unclassified documents. The breach, discovered on December 8th, was reported by BeyondTrust, a third-party software provider. This incident highlights the ongoing cybersecurity challenges faced by government agencies. For more on security, see Understanding macOS XProtect.
The U.S. Treasury has yet to comment publicly. This attack underscores the increasing sophistication of state-sponsored cyberattacks and the need for robust security measures. Decentralized verification systems may offer increased protection in the future.