Amsterdam: Dutch military intelligence dropped a bombshell on Monday, revealing that Chinese cyber espionage activities have sprawled wider than previously perceived, with a particular focus on Western governments and defense firms.
The MIVD agency disclosed that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking collective, implicated in a 2023 breach of the Dutch defense ministry, had ensnared over 20,000 victims globally within a few short months, with potential for an even broader impact.
Despite these grave allegations, China’s embassy in The Hague maintained silence in response to requests for comment, a standard maneuver as Beijing consistently refutes accusations of cyber espionage, adamantly professing opposition to all forms of cyber assault.
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According to MIVD’s statement, the targets of these cyber intrusions spanned a vast spectrum, encompassing dozens of Western governments, international bodies, and a plethora of companies entrenched within the defense sector.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, MIVD urged organizations to adopt a proactive stance encapsulated in the “Assume Breach” doctrine, advocating for the assumption that a successful digital infiltration has either occurred or is imminent.
This latest revelation comes hot on the heels of MIVD’s April announcement in its annual report, where it unveiled that Chinese intelligence operatives had honed in on Dutch semiconductor, aerospace, and maritime enterprises, allegedly in a bid to bolster China’s military prowess.
