Particle.news

Download on the App Store

China-Linked Hackers Escalate Cyber Espionage Against Taiwan’s Chip Industry

Proofpoint’s mid-July report details phishing campaigns that delivered malware to harvest design and financial data under new U.S. chip export controls.

Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustration picture taken February 25, 2022. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo
Trays of 12th or 13th Gen Intel processors waiting to be tested.
Image

Overview

  • Security firm Proofpoint traced coordinated campaigns by three China-linked hacking groups active from March through June with intrusions continuing into mid-July.
  • An estimated 15 to 20 targets include Taiwan’s leading semiconductor designers, manufacturers, supply-chain firms and investment analysts at a U.S.-based bank.
  • One group leveraged stolen university email accounts to pose as job candidates and send malicious PDFs or password-protected archives.
  • A separate operation masqueraded as a fictitious investment company to phish financial analysts with collaboration invitations containing credential-stealing links.
  • Beijing has officially rejected any involvement, even as experts link the activity to China’s strategic drive for semiconductor self-reliance under tougher U.S. export restrictions.