DC Law Firm Suffers Alleged Cyber Intrusion by Chinese Hackers
In a series of cyber-attacks believed to be for intelligence-gathering purposes, suspected Chinese hackers have reportedly breached the email accounts of attorneys and advisers at Wiley Rein, a prominent Washington, DC law firm. The breach comes amidst escalating tensions between the US and China, with the Trump administration's trade war intensifying by imposing unprecedented tariffs on Chinese exports.
The hack on Wiley Rein, a powerful player in navigating the trade war with China, is one of several suspected Chinese intrusions into US organisations handling sensitive trade or investment matters. The firm, which counts Fortune 500 companies and a team of top trade attorneys among its clients, has notified law enforcement and is coordinating with them to determine the extent of the breach.
For years, US officials have been grappling with China's formidable cyber capabilities. In January, Chinese hackers breached the US government office that reviews foreign investments for national security risks, as reported by CNN. The FBI is still dealing with the sweeping Chinese compromise of US telecom providers, which targeted the phone communications of senior US leaders, including then-presidential candidate Trump. This breach became public last year and involved AT&T, Verizon, and other major communications firms.
Google-owned security firm Mandiant is remediating the hack at Wiley Rein, according to a memo from the law firm. Brett Leatherman, the assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, stated that the FBI does not know if they have identified all victims or if there will be more in the telecom hacking campaign. However, the FBI believes the telecom firms have contained the hackers after many months of investigation.
Beijing's cyber doctrine is more than just access; it's about building long-term leverage. The hack of Wiley Rein could add to one of numerous open investigations that the FBI has into Beijing-linked cyber-espionage. On Friday, the Trump administration blocked a Hong Kong-based firm's acquisition of Jupiter Systems, a supplier of audio-visual equipment, citing potential compromise of Jupiter's products used in military and critical infrastructure environments.
Foreign investment reviews play a significant role in the relationship between the world's two biggest economies. As the investigation into the Wiley Rein hack continues, it underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining cybersecurity in the face of sophisticated state-sponsored attacks. CNN has requested comment from Wiley Rein, the FBI, Mandiant, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, but at the time of writing, no official statements have been released.
- The Wiley Rein hack, a prominent law firm involved in navigating the trade war with China, highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining cybersecurity against sophisticated state-sponsored attacks, specifically those originating from China.
- Amidst escalating tensions between the US and China, the breach of Wiley Rein's email accounts serves as another example of Beijing-linked cyber-espionage, adding to the numerous open investigations undertaken by the FBI regarding these activities.
