Chinese hackers target German pharma and tech companies

German and Chinese flags fly in Tiananmen Square ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Beijing, China, on May 23, 2018.REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File photo

BERLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) – Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) said APT 27, a Chinese hacking group long suspected of launching attacks on Western government agencies, has started targeting German companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and technology for a week. three.

In addition to stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, the BfV said in a notice to companies that hackers may also attempt to penetrate the networks of customers and service providers to infiltrate multiple companies at the same time.

In its 2019 annual constitutional protection report, the BfV noted that the group, whose acronym APT 27 is an alias for a Chinese hacking group also known as “Panda Ambassadors”, is believed to target foreign embassies and key sectors.

Last year, the United States and its allies accused China of global cyber espionage. China has denied the allegation.read more

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Reporting by Zuzanna Szymanska Editing by Mark Potter

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