Chinese hackers target family members to surveil hard targets
APT 31, a Chinese hacking group, targeted US and Western individuals through malicious emails and tracking links for nearly a decade.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
A recent indictment revealed a Chinese hacking group, APT 31, targeted thousands of U.S. and Western politicians, academics, journalists, and activists from 2015 to 2024. The group used malicious emails with tracking links to gather information on targets, including high-ranking officials’ network details. Targeting family members is part of China’s strategy, which experts say is uncommon but effective in infiltrating individuals’ networks. This approach is part of broader Chinese efforts to surveil and coerce critics globally, using methods like impersonating journalists and exploiting personal connections to compromise targets.