Chinese hackers impersonated ex-US official to steal emails from AI experts
Proofpoint said fewer than 10 people at think tanks, universities and law firms were targeted in a campaign seeking access to AI policy information.
- On Thursday, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint revealed suspected Chinese hackers, dubbed TA419, impersonated prominent AI experts to target email accounts of policymakers and researchers at United States universities and think tanks.
- The campaign involved writing emails purporting to come from experts like Lynne Parker, a former senior White House Technology Policy official, to invite targets into fictitious policy projects or panels.
- Alex Engler, a former White House official, received an invitation to join an AI policy project on Wednesday, realizing the email felt "slightly, nebulously off" after checking with others in the field.
- Proofpoint said the targeting of fewer than 10 individuals suggested "an intelligence interest in US policymaking rather than technology theft alone," indicating hackers sought policy insights over stolen technology.
- While President Donald Trump discussed AI last week at the White House with Chinese leader Xi Jinping without a substantive accord, Beijing has long denied carrying out cyberespionage operations.
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CyberScoopcybernoz.comAI policy circles targeted in China-linked phishing operation
Cybersecurity firm Proofpoint said TA419 impersonated officials and AI industry figures in an effort to gain access to cloud accounts held by U.S. think tank, university and legal-sector experts.
Chinese hackers impersonated ex-U.S. official to steal emails from AI experts
Chinese hackers have been impersonating U.S. AI experts, including a former government official, to try to steal emails from experts in AI at think tanks, universities, and other organizations, the cybersecurity company Proofpoint said on Thursday.
The hackers who Proofpoint ties to China sent e-mails to AI specialists on behalf of American experts to extract data.
China-linked hackers impersonated US AI insiders as global race heats up
Suspected Chinese hackers impersonated an Anthropic employee and ex-US officials in an espionage campaign aimed at gaining insights into American AI developments, a US cybersecurity firm said Thursday.
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