China accused by US and allies of cyberattacks threatening their security
Antony Blinken denounces China's “irresponsible, disruptive and destabilizing” behavior.
He considers that these activities represent "a major threat to the economy and to security".
REUTERS - POOL
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The United States and its main allies - the European Union, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand - accuse China of carrying out cyber attacks that threaten their security.
It is the first time that such a group of countries have condemned Beijing's malicious computer activities together.
In a statement, the US State Department said the Chinese cyberattacks have cost the targeted companies and governments billions of dollars.
Washington accuses Beijing of employing private hackers to carry out its criminal activities around the world.
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With our correspondent in Washington,
Anne Corpet
The US Secretary of State accuses the Chinese Ministry of Security of fostering an ecosystem of indentured criminal hackers who carry out state-sponsored activities.
Antony Blinken denounces
China's
“
irresponsible, disruptive and destabilizing
”
behavior
.
He considers that these activities represent "
a major threat to the economy and to security
".
According to the Americans, Chinese hackers use as many as fifty different techniques to carry out their malicious activities and extort ransoms.
No sanction announced for the moment against Beijing
The US government and its allies formally attribute the massive attacks carried out against users of the Microsoft system last March in Beijing.
They have affected 30,000 public and private entities and caused billions of dollars in losses.
The Justice Department also announced on Monday the indictment of four Chinese, a hacker and three officers from the State Security Ministry.
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See also:
United States: dozens of companies targeted by cyber attacks
The Americans and their allies claim to work together to fight cyber attacks and oppose what they call digital authoritarianism.
No sanctions have yet been announced against Beijing in the United States, but they are not excluded.
"
The investigation is not over,
" explained Joe Biden, questioned this morning on this subject.
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China
Defense
Cybercriminality
United States
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UK
Canada
Australia