A Chinese man, Guan Tianfeng, has been indicted in a federal court in northern Indiana for breaking through firewalls in 2020 to steal information from malware-infected computers. Guan and others exploited a vulnerability in network security devices, specifically in firewalls from Sophos Ltd. They infected 81,000 firewall devices worldwide, including one used by an agency of the United States. Sophos discovered the intrusion and remediated its customers’ firewalls quickly, causing the co-conspirators to modify their malware. Guan worked for Sichuan Silence, a China-based company that has provided services to the Chinese government. The company publicized a product that could scan and detect overseas network targets to obtain intelligence information.
The U.S. Department of Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on Guan and other cyberactivity by Sichuan Silence. The FBI is continuing to investigate the company’s hacking activities. Guan, who is currently being searched for, could face significant penalties for his involvement in the cybercrimes. The case highlights the ongoing threat of cyberattacks and the importance of maintaining strong network security measures to protect sensitive information.
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