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WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 — The United States has accused a China-linked hacking group of carrying out a years-long cyber campaign targeting sensitive U.S. government networks, including those of the Department of Justice, NASA, the Federal Reserve and the Senate.
U.S. authorities said they had identified and disrupted the cyber operation, which had been active since at least 2018.
The hackers allegedly used sophisticated platforms known as QScan and QTRouter to conduct intrusions and conceal their activities.
According to an FBI affidavit, the group also targeted the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, defense contractors, financial institutions and universities. Some attacks succeeded, while others were unsuccessful.
Authorities said the hackers attempted to exploit vulnerabilities in networks and used compromised devices and proxy infrastructure to disguise the origin of their activities.
An unsuccessful attempt to access NASA’s network was reported in 2019, while hackers also allegedly targeted Senate and hospital networks in 2026.
The U.S. Justice Department said it had seized infrastructure associated with the operation as part of efforts to disrupt the hacking network.
Officials described the campaign as a significant cyber-espionage threat to U.S. government and critical infrastructure.
China has rejected U.S. accusations of state-sponsored hacking, with Chinese officials previously denying allegations that Beijing directs cyberattacks against foreign governments and organizations.