China-linked hackers posed the most significant espionage threat to technology companies over the past year, according to a report by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The firm stated that these hacking campaigns align with China's strategic priorities, including technology development and intellectual property acquisition.
The technology sector was identified as the most targeted industry by both foreign governments and cybercriminals, with a focus on companies involved in research, development, and distribution of hardware, software, and IT services. The findings come amid significant investment and high valuations in the artificial intelligence space, which are considered high-value targets.
CrowdStrike noted an "AI arms race" between the U.S. and China, with China aiming for global dominance by 2030. This threat extends to major AI labs and smaller model developers. The White House previously accused China-based entities of "deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns" to distill U.S.-developed AI models for their own purposes.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed the report, stating that China opposes hacking activities and rejects "vilification and smears under the pretext of cybersecurity." The spokesperson added that China and the U.S. need to collaborate on AI development and governance, referencing constructive exchanges between the two heads of state.
The report also highlighted North Korean hacking campaigns, where operatives use fake identities to secure remote IT jobs at tech companies, with salaries largely funneled back to the government for intelligence collection. Russian and Iran-linked groups were also noted for targeting the tech sector for intelligence and destructive malware attacks. Furthermore, the report indicated a 30% increase in advertisements from financially motivated cybercriminal groups selling access to technology targets.