🔥 Chinese Hackers Targeted Commerce Secretary and Oda U.S. Officials 👀💻
⬇️ Pidgin ⬇️ ⬇️ Black American Slang ⬇️ English
Di Chinese hackers don penetrate di email accounts of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and oda officials from di State and Commerce Departments. Di tori burst out say na di week before Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken travel go Beijing for June, na im di hackers do dia tin, U.S. officials yan on Wednesday. 🚨🌐
Di investigation dey go on to find out di full gist about di Chinese hackers wey likely get link with China military or spy services. But U.S. officials dem no too dey yan say dem steal sensitive information, dem dey insist say no classified email or cloud systems dem penetrate. Na di cybersecurity team for State Department bin first discover di intrusion. 🕵️♀️🔍
Dem talk say Ms. Raimondo, wey don show herself as strong critic of Beijing for di administration, na one of di main targets. Two U.S. officials yan dis one. She don tight export controls on China and threaten say she go cut dia supply of U.S. semiconductor technology if dem give chips give Russia. Dem say she go even visit China by di end of summer. 📉💥
Based on dia preliminary investigation, officials believe say na only Ms. Raimondo wey di hackers successfully penetrate her email. As dem dey access oda State Department email boxes, dem no fit reach Mr. Blinken’s Microsoft 365 account, officials yan. Di attack na specifically on individual email accounts and no be to steal plenty data, unlike di way Chinese hackers don do before. Dem no want tell us di full list of officials wey dem hack. 💌💼
Microsoft, wey talk about di hack on Tuesday, yan say e start for May according to dia investigation. State Department bin discover di intrusion on June 16, and same day dem yan Microsoft, just before Mr. Blinken waka enter Beijing. Na dat night e fly comot from Washington. ✉️🕵️♂️
Dis trip bin dey important for both Washington and Beijing. E be di first time wey Secretary of State go China for five years, and e get serious purpose: to improve di bad relationship wey dey between dem. Since dat time, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen don visit Beijing, and John Kerry, di special envoy for climate, dey plan to land dia for Sunday for four days of serious talk. ✈️🤝
President Biden and Xi Jinping, wey be China leader, bin agree for one meeting wey dem do for Bali, Indonesia, for November. Dem bin talk say make dem try bring stability for dia relationship, but as tings stand now, tension don dey rise wella. Di Pentagon don discover and shoot down one Chinese spy balloon wey dey float for U.S. airspace for early February. Na dat time Mr. Blinken cancel im trip go China. Few weeks later, e accuse Beijing say dem wan send military support give Russia for Ukraine. 💥🎈
One senior State Department official, wey no wan reveal im name because di matter sensitive, yan say di hack no be direct attack on Mr. Blinken’s rescheduled trip. Oda officials warn say e still early to know wetin di hackers fit don steal, if dem steal anytin at all. 🧐🕵️♂️
For statement wey dem release on Wednesday, State Department talk say afta dem see say something no dey right for dia system, dem do everything to make sure say dem secure evri evri, and dem go still dey monitor di mata well well. 🔒🔍
According to one spokesperson for di Commerce Department, Microsoft tell dem say di hackers don enter dia cloud-based email when dem dey look for oda breaches afta dem receive alert from State Department. Di Commerce Department don dey lead di effort to control di export and make sure say Chinese military no fit get access to critical American technology. Na im dey make di relationship between di two countries dey hot. 🛡️🌐
Afta dem inform Microsoft about di hack wey dem discover, Microsoft kon find out say di hackers also attack like 25 oda organizations, including government agencies. One official from di Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency yan say some of di organizations dey based outside di U.S., but di number of organizations wey di hack affect for U.S. dey for single digits. 🚔🔓
U.S. officials yan say di hackers target just few email accounts for each organization, dem no waka scatter like dat. But dem no want yan di exact number of accounts wey dem believe say di Chinese hackers fit don compromise. 📉🔓
Di U.S. government never officially accuse China for di attack, maybe because di Biden administration dey try to maintain dia talks with Beijing. But privately, di officials agree with Microsoft say di hack na handiwork of di Chinese hackers wey government support, and e get style like say e na high-level attack. 🕵️♂️🎯
Dem describe di intrusion as surgical, unlike di SolarWinds hack wey happen for 2019 and 2020. For dat SolarWinds hack, Russian intelligence take advantage of vulnerability for software supply chains enter plenty computer networks. Di way spy agencies dey operate na to try gather as much information as possible without dem notice dem. 🕵️♂️💻
United States and China dey in competition to gather intelligence on each oda. U.S. officials talk say na normal tin for espionage and hacking to dey happen, but dem dey do serious investigation to close di security loophole wey di Chinese hackers exploit inside State Department and any oda security weaknesses for cloud computing. 💪🕵️♀️
On Wednesday, U.S. officials yan say State Department cybersecurity experts bin detect di intrusion afta dem check email access logs — records of di emails wey don enter and di time wey dem enter.
According to di officials, Microsoft dey charge extra for organizations to dey access di logs. Some of di organizations wey dem hack no get dat access, so if no be Microsoft help, dem for nor fit discover di breach. U.S. officials don dey push Microsoft to give access to di logs to evri organization wey get cloud computing contract with dem. 📊🔓
State Department na prime target for hacking from foreign governments. Russian intelligence don enta dia network well well before. For 2014 and 2015, Russian hackers don enta State Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, White House, and oda key computer networks wey dem classify as no be classified networks. 🛡️💻
NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG
🔥 Chinese Hackers Pulled Up on Commerce Secretary and Other U.S. Officials 👀💻
Yo, these Chinese hackers straight up infiltrated the email accounts of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and some other officials from the State and Commerce Departments. Word on the street is, this went down in the week leading up to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s trip to Beijing in June, according to U.S. officials who spilled the tea on Wednesday. 🚨🌐
They still investigating to get the full rundown on these Chinese hackers, who most likely linked to China’s military or spy services. But let me tell you, U.S. officials been downplaying the idea that any sensitive info got snatched. They saying no classified emails or cloud systems got breeched, you feel me? State Department’s cybersecurity squad was the first to peep the intrusion. 🕵️♀️🔍
Check it, one of the main targets was Commerce Secretary Raimondo, no cap. She been out here speaking up against Beijing, making moves with tighter export controls on China. She even threatened to cut off their supply of U.S. semiconductor technology if they tryna hook Russia up with them chips. I heard she planning a trip to China by the end of summer, too. 📉💥
From what they found out in the initial investigation, officials think Raimondo was the only high-ranking official whose email got breached. They did manage to get into other State Department email accounts, but they couldn’t crack Mr. Blinken’s Microsoft 365. Just know, this attack was specifically targeting individual email accounts, ain’t nothing massive, unlike them Chinese hackers’ previous moves. They being hush-hush about the full list of hacked officials, though. 💌💼
So, Microsoft came out and spilled the beans on Tuesday, saying this hack game started back in May, based on their own investigation. State Department caught wind of the intrusion on June 16 and quickly hollered at Microsoft right before Blinken was about to dip to Beijing. He jetted out of Washington that night. ✉️🕵️♂️
Now, listen up, this trip was a big deal for both Washington and Beijing. It’s been five years since a U.S. Secretary of State hit up China, so you know it was about time to fix the messed-up relationship between them. Since then, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen done pulled up in Beijing, and John Kerry, the special envoy for climate, about to touch down on Sunday for four days of crucial talks. ✈️🤝
Last November, when President Biden linked up with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, in Bali, Indonesia, they agreed to work on keeping things stable. But check this out, tensions been heating up lately. Back in February, the Pentagon caught a Chinese spy balloon floating in U.S. airspace and shut that down quick. That situation led to Blinken canceling his previous trip. A few weeks later, he was out here straight-up accusing Beijing of thinking about hooking Russia up with military support for Ukraine. 💥🎈
Now, a top State Department official, who wanna stay anonymous because things be sensitive, said this hack might not even be directly connected to Blinken’s rescheduled trip. Other officials be saying it’s still too early to know exactly what these hackers might’ve stolen, if they even took anything at all. 🧐🕵️♂️
The State Department released a statement on Wednesday, saying they peeped some “anomalous activity” and made moves to secure their systems ASAP. They letting us know they gonna keep a close eye on the situation and stay ready to shut it down if anything else pops off. 🔒🔍
According to a spokesperson from the Commerce Department, Microsoft hit ’em up saying their cloud-based email got breeched as part of the investigation the State Department started. The Commerce Department been leading the charge on export controls to keep the Chinese military from getting their hands on important American tech. That’s been a major issue that’s been getting under Beijing’s skin. 🛡️🌐
Once the State Department reported the hack to Microsoft, they found out that these hackers been getting at around 25 other organizations, including government agencies. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said some of these organizations are outside the U.S., while the number of American-based organizations affected is just a few. 🚔🔓
U.S. officials saying these hackers went after a select few email accounts in each organization, not trying to hit everything and everyone. But they keeping the exact number of compromised accounts on the low, thanks to these Chinese hackers. 📉🔓
Now, the U.S. government ain’t officially pointing fingers at China, maybe ’cause the Biden administration trying to keep things smooth during talks. But behind closed doors, officials agreeing with Microsoft that these Chinese hackers got the backing of their government and pulled off a straight-up sophisticated attack. 🕵️♂️🎯
They calling this intrusion surgical, a whole different vibe from that SolarWinds hack back in 2019 and 2020. Russian intelligence used software supply chains to get into mad computer networks. Spy agencies like to move in silence, trying to gather as much info as possible without raising any alarms. 🕵️♂️💻
This competition between the United States and China for intelligence gathering is getting real intense. Both governments be trying to level up their game. U.S. officials saying it’s expected to have some espionage and hacking going on, but they doing a thorough investigation to close these security gaps these Chinese hackers exploited in the State Department and any other weak spots in cloud computing. 💪🕵️♀️
On Wednesday, U.S. officials dropped the news that State Department’s cybersecurity experts peeped the intrusion by checking out them email access logs. That’s where they see which emails got hit and when.
Now, peep this, Microsoft charging extra for regular access to them logs. Some of the organizations that got hit didn’t have access to those logs, so if it wasn’t for Microsoft stepping in, they wouldn’t even know they got breeched. U.S. officials been pushing Microsoft to give all organizations with cloud computing contracts access to them logs. 📊🔓
State Department been getting hit up by foreign governments on the regular. Russian intelligence been sneaking up in their network before. Back in 2014 and 2015, Russian hackers went for the State Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, White House, and other important networks that ain’t even classified. 🛡️💻
NOW IN ENGLISH
🔥 Chinese Hackers Targeted Commerce Secretary and Other U.S. Officials 👀💻
The Chinese hackers have penetrated the email accounts of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and other officials from the State and Commerce Departments. The news broke that this happened in the week leading up to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s trip to Beijing in June, according to U.S. officials who spoke on Wednesday. 🚨🌐
The investigation is still ongoing to uncover the full details about these Chinese hackers, who are likely affiliated with China’s military or spy services. However, U.S. officials have been downplaying the notion that sensitive information was stolen, emphasizing that no classified emails or cloud systems were breached. The State Department’s cybersecurity team was the first to discover the intrusion. 🕵️♀️🔍
It has been revealed that one of the primary targets was Commerce Secretary Raimondo, who has been known for her strong criticism of Beijing within the administration. Two U.S. officials confirmed this. She has implemented stricter export controls on China and even threatened to cut off the country’s supply of U.S. semiconductor technology if they provide chips to Russia. It is expected that Raimondo will visit China by the end of the summer. 📉💥
Based on their initial investigation, officials believe that Raimondo was the only cabinet-level official whose email was successfully breached by the hackers. While they gained access to other State Department email accounts, they were unable to breach Mr. Blinken’s Microsoft 365 account. It is important to note that this attack specifically targeted individual email accounts and did not involve the theft of extensive data, unlike previous incidents involving Chinese hackers. The full list of hacked officials has not been disclosed. 💌💼
Microsoft, which disclosed the hack on Tuesday, stated that it began in May, based on their own investigation. The State Department discovered the intrusion on June 16 and promptly notified Microsoft, just prior to Mr. Blinken’s trip to Beijing. He departed from Washington that evening. ✉️🕵️♂️
This trip was of great significance to both Washington and Beijing, marking the first visit to China by a U.S. Secretary of State in five years. The purpose was to improve the deteriorating relationship between the two countries. Since then, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen has also visited Beijing, and John Kerry, the special envoy for climate, is scheduled to arrive there on Sunday for four days of crucial discussions. ✈️🤝
During a meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last November, President Biden and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, agreed to work towards stabilizing their relationship. However, tensions have been on the rise. In early February, the Pentagon discovered and shot down a Chinese spy balloon that was floating over U.S. airspace. This incident led to the cancellation of Mr. Blinken’s previous trip to China. A few weeks later, he publicly accused Beijing of considering providing military aid to Russia for use in Ukraine. 💥🎈
A senior State Department official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the incident, stated that the hack does not appear to be directly related to Mr. Blinken’s rescheduled trip. Other officials cautioned that it is still too early to determine what, if any, information might have been stolen by the hackers. 🧐🕵️♂️
In a statement released on Wednesday, the State Department acknowledged “anomalous activity” and took immediate steps to secure their systems. They assured that they will continue closely monitoring the situation and promptly respond to any further activity. 🔒🔍
According to a spokesperson for the Commerce Department, they were notified by Microsoft that their cloud-based email had been breached as part of the investigation initiated by the State Department. The Commerce Department has been leading efforts to impose export controls to prevent the Chinese military from accessing critical American technology, which has been a major point of contention between the two countries. 🛡️🌐
Following the State Department’s report of the hack, Microsoft discovered that the hackers had also targeted around 25 other organizations, including government agencies. An official from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated that some of these organizations are based overseas, while the number of U.S.-based organizations affected is in the single digits. 🚔🔓
U.S. officials have revealed that the hackers specifically targeted a limited number of email accounts within each organization, rather than conducting a widespread breach. However, they have not disclosed the exact number of compromised accounts believed to be the work of the Chinese hackers. 📉🔓
The U.S. government has not officially attributed the attack to China, possibly due to the Biden administration’s efforts to maintain ongoing talks with Beijing. However, privately, officials agree with Microsoft’s assessment that the hack bears the hallmarks of a sophisticated attack backed by the Chinese government. 🕵️♂️🎯
They have described this intrusion as surgical, in contrast to the SolarWinds hack that occurred in 2019 and 2020, where Russian intelligence exploited vulnerabilities in software supply chains to gain access to numerous computer networks. Spy agencies typically carry out intrusions in adversarial networks with caution, aiming to extract as much information as possible without raising suspicion. 🕵️♂️💻
The United States and China are engaged in an escalating intelligence competition, with both governments seeking to expand their collection capabilities against each other. U.S. officials acknowledge that espionage and hacking activities are expected, but they are conducting a thorough investigation to address the security vulnerabilities exploited by the Chinese hackers within the State Department and any potential weaknesses in cloud computing. 💪🕵️♀️
On Wednesday, U.S. officials stated that the State Department’s cybersecurity experts detected the intrusion by analyzing email access logs, which provide a record of the compromised emails and the timing of the breaches.
Microsoft charges organizations an additional fee for regular access to these logs. Some of the affected entities did not have access to these logs, meaning that without Microsoft’s assistance, they would not have been able to detect the breach. U.S. officials have been urging Microsoft to provide access logs to all organizations that have cloud computing contracts with them. 📊🔓
The State Department has been a frequent target for hacking by foreign governments, with Russian intelligence previously infiltrating their networks. In 2014 and 2015, Russian hackers breached the State Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, White House, and other critical computer networks classified as non-classified networks. 🛡️💻
