US Sanctions Chinese Firm Over Treasury Breach

The United States on Jan. 17 sanctioned a Chinese cyber actor and a cybersecurity firm, accusing both of aiding the recent hack into the Treasury Department and the intrusion into major U.S. telecom providers. The Chinese cyber actor identified is Yin Kecheng, a decade-long hacker from Shanghai who officials said is affiliated with the top Chinese espionage agency, the Ministry of State Security. The sanction also applies to Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, a cybersecurity company based in southwestern China, due to its direct ties with the Chinese state-sponsored hacking group Salt Typhoon. The group is responsible for a massive operation compromising at least nine U.S. telecom companies, allowing Beijing access to private conversations of senior American political figures, U.S. officials have said....