NEW YORK - Chinese hackers likely targeted energy companies operating in the South China Sea and the Australian government, according to a US tech security firm, the latest accusation of coordinated cybersnooping by the Asian nation to advance its geopolitical goals.
Proofpoint said it had"moderate confidence" that the hacking was being performed by a group called TA423, adding it is based in China and motivated by espionage. It operated a"lavishly resourced hacking programme that's bigger than that of every other major country combined," he said. Proofpoint said that emails used in the phishing campaign impersonated Australian media organisations including The Australian and Herald Sun to deliver ScanBox malware.