The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Guan Tianfeng, a Chinese national accused of masterminding a large-scale cyberattack. Guan, 30, along with his co-conspirators, is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and wire fraud. The charges were formally announced on Tuesday with the unsealing of an indictment, part of the State Department’s "Rewards for Justice" program. Guan is believed to be living in Sichuan Province, China.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that Guan and his associates exploited vulnerabilities in tens of thousands of network security devices, deploying malware to steal sensitive information from victims across the globe. According to the indictment, one of the most significant attacks occurred in April 2020 when hackers compromised around 81,000 firewall devices in a global breach.
FBI agent Herbert Stapleton emphasized the scale of the attack, saying, The zero-day vulnerability Guan Tianfeng and his co-conspirators discovered and exploited primarily targeted firewall devices owned by businesses across the United States. Stapleton also noted that the consequences could have been far worse if it weren't for the quick response of cybersecurity firm Sophos, which helped mitigate the attack's damage.
Further details from the indictment reveal that a company connected to Guan, Sichuan Silence, played a key role in the operation. The company allegedly sold hacking services and the stolen data to Chinese businesses and government entities, including the Ministry of Public Security. This involvement raises serious concerns about state-sponsored cybercrime, particularly as the attack targeted critical infrastructure.
The U.S. government's reward offering underscores the gravity of the breach and highlights the ongoing efforts to hold cybercriminals accountable for large-scale attacks. This case also emphasizes the growing challenges in global cybersecurity, with attacks increasingly targeting vital infrastructure. The scale and sophistication of the cyberattack, combined with the potential state-backed involvement, underscores the need for robust international cooperation to combat the rising threat of cybercrime.
As the investigation continues, the U.S. hopes that the substantial reward will lead to the capture of Guan and his associates, sending a clear message about the importance of addressing cybersecurity threats on a global scale.
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