Did China Hack Microsoft?

Merely weeks after US authorities begin cracking down on Russian affiliated REvil ransomware, Microsoft- an American tech giant, has been the victim of a cyber attack. The Biden administration and a number of western allies lodged complaints against, and blamed China for a massive hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software. The Biden administration also asserted that criminal hackers associated with the Chinese government have carried irresponsible behaviour in the cyber space.

China has denied and opposed the claims it has been confronted with, and continues claims that the allegations against it are all fabricated. China’s foreign ministry spokesman said the US had got its allies to make “unreasonable criticisms” against China.

Microsoft’s Exchange system powers the email of huge corporations small businesses and public bodies. The hack affected at least 30,000 organisations around the world. Microsoft blamed a Chinese cyber-espionage group for targeting a weakness in Microsoft Exchange, which allowed hackers to get into email inboxes.

US officials also alleged that criminal contract hackers associated with China’s Ministry of State Security have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and theft for their own profit.