U.S. Sanctions China’s Integrity Technology Group

Date: Friday
Source: Reuters

The U.S. sanctioned China’s Integrity Technology Group, accusing it of being behind a prolific hacking group known as “Flax Typhoon.”

The State Department stated that Integrity Tech is a significant Chinese government contractor linked to the Ministry of State Security. It claimed that the company’s hackers were operating under Beijing’s direction to target critical infrastructure in both the U.S. and internationally.

Western officials have previously implicated the Beijing-based company in Flax Typhoon’s activities. In September, FBI Director Christopher Wray accused Integrity Tech of collecting intelligence and conducting reconnaissance for Chinese government security agencies.

An advisory issued simultaneously by U.S., British, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand cyber officials indicated that Integrity Tech compromised more than 250,000 devices worldwide.

Chinese officials responded by accusing the U.S. and its allies of making unfounded accusations against China regarding Integrity and Flax Typhoon.

The hacking group is part of a wider array of Chinese cyberespionage actors drawing scrutiny for targeting sensitive data and infrastructure. Other groups include “Volt Typhoon”, which U.S. officials fear is preparing for conflict with the U.S., and “Salt Typhoon,” which has infiltrated U.S. telecom companies.

Recently, U.S. Treasury officials reported that an unnamed Chinese hacking group breached the Department’s computers, compromising undisclosed data, specifically targeting the sanctions office, according to the Washington Post.