US targets China-linked 'cyber actor' over Treasury hack


- Illustrative image: iStock

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday (Jan 17) sanctioned a man affiliated with China's Ministry of State Security whom it accused of involvement in a recent hack of the Treasury Department.

In a statement, the US Treasury said Yin Kecheng "was associated with the recent compromise of the Department of the Treasury's Departmental Offices network."

Yin Kecheng, it added, had been a "cyber actor" for more than a decade and was affiliated with China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).

The Treasury move comes just three days before US President Joe Biden makes way for President-elect Donald Trump, and it follows an earlier US determination that a Chinese state-sponsored actor had been behind the breach.

"The Treasury Department will continue to use its authorities to hold accountable malicious cyber actors who target the American people, our companies, and the United States government, including those who have targeted the Treasury Department specifically," deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said.

Separately, in an opinion piece for Bloomberg News, Adeyemo called Yin Kecheng a "state-backed actor" and accused him of hacking into the Treasury's unclassified systems.

Earlier this week, several US media outlets reported that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Adeyemo and another senior Treasury official were among those targeted by the hack.

A Treasury spokesperson declined to comment on the reports.

In addition to the sanctions against Yin Kecheng, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., "a Sichuan-based cyber-security company with direct involvement in the Salt Typhoon cyber group."

The Salt Typhoon group "recently compromised the network infrastructure of multiple major US telecommunication and internet service provider companies," the Treasury statement said.

The group reportedly used that access to target senior US politicians including Donald Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and people close to the outgoing vice president, Kamala Harris. - AFP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Aseanplus News

South Korea orders all airports to install bird detection cameras, radars
Dee Hsu refutes claim Wang Xiaofei hired jet to bring ex-wife Barbie Hsu's ashes to Taiwan
Anger over US deportations
China is ‘resolutely opposed’ to US tariffs
Building a shared future
Ministries block access to China’s DeepSeek
When tradition meets innovation
China-aided landmine clearing benefits 2.5 million people
OpenAI chief willing to collaborate with tech sector
Seoul: N. Korean troops taken off Russian frontline

Others Also Read