Recently, Chinese hackers successfully breached the US government office responsible for reviewing foreign investments for national security risks. This breach, which had not been previously reported, highlights China's interest in spying on a crucial US government office with the authority to block Chinese investments in the US. The targeted office, known as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), gained increased powers in December to scrutinize real estate transactions near US military bases amid concerns of potential espionage activities.
The hackers infiltrated the Treasury Department's unclassified system as part of a broader cyber incursion. In addition to targeting CFIUS, the hackers also accessed the Treasury's sanctions office, which had recently imposed sanctions on a Chinese company for alleged involvement in cyberattacks. While there is no evidence of classified information being compromised, the stolen unclassified data could potentially provide valuable intelligence to China if pieced together.
