China-linked hackers breach Microsoft, accessing 60K U.S. State Department emails

A group of hackers based in China has committed cyber espionage against the U.S., resulting in the theft of approximately 60,000 emails from the U.S. State Department, according to a report by Rebel News1. The breaches targeted Microsoft's email platform earlier this year, with all the affected email accounts associated with matters concerning East Asia and the Pacific1. IT officials from the State Department informed U.S. legislators about the security compromise1.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the accusation "disinformation" to distract from the U.S.1. However, earlier in June, hackers with alleged affiliations to the Chinese Communist Party managed to exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft's system, facilitating unauthorized access to several1.

Key facts:

• A group of hackers based in China has committed cyber espionage against the U.S., resulting in the theft of approximately 60,000 emails from the U.S. State Department, according to a report by Rebel News1.
• The breaches targeted Microsoft's email platform earlier this year, with all the affected email accounts associated with matters concerning East Asia and the Pacific1.
• IT officials from the State Department informed U.S. legislators about the security compromise1.
• China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the accusation "disinformation" to distract from the U.S.1.
• Earlier in June, hackers with alleged affiliations to the Chinese Communist Party managed to exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft's system, facilitating unauthorized access to several1.