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Chinese state-backed hackers are turning to cybercrime for profit

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Geekz Snow
Chinese state-backed hackers are turning to cybercrime for profit

A group of Chinese state-backed hackers is also launching financially motivated attacks for personal gain in what cybersecurity researchers call a “remarkable” deviation from a singular focus on espionage.

Why it matters: The group, dubbed Advanced Persistent Threat 41 (APT41), is known for having targeted the healthcare, high-tech, and telecommunications sectors in 14 countries ranging from the US to Turkey and South Africa.

The group is unique among China’s state-backed hackers for its use of tools typically reserved for espionage operations in missions that fall outside state control.

“APT41 carries out an array of financially motivated intrusions, particularly against the video game industry, including stealing source code and digital certificates, virtual currency manipulation, and attempting to deploy ransomware.”

—Cybersecurity researchers wrote in their report

Details: The researchers from cybersecurity firm FireEye said the group’s skills gained from cybercrime activities have ultimately supported its state-sponsored operations.

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Geekz Snow
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