China Accuses NSA of Hacking National Timekeeping Agency
BEIJING (AP) - China's Ministry of State Security on Thursday accused the United States' National Security Agency (NSA) of hacking into the country's National Time Service Center, a facility that provides high-precision timekeeping services for the government and various industries.
According to Chinese authorities, the NSA exploited vulnerabilities in employees' mobile phones starting March 25, 2022, and later used stolen login credentials to access the center's computers beginning April 18, 2023. The Ministry of State Security said investigators found that private servers worldwide were employed to conceal the attacks' origin.
"This is a serious breach of China's national security," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of State Security, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We have irrefutable evidence of the NSA's involvement and will take all necessary measures to protect our country's interests."
The accusations emerge against a backdrop of mutual cyber-espionage claims between Washington and Beijing. Western governments and companies have repeatedly blamed Chinese hackers for intrusions in recent years.
The National Time Service Center, located in Xi'an, provides high-precision timekeeping services that are used to calculate international standard time. The facility is also responsible for supplying data to various industries, including finance and transportation.
"This incident highlights the ongoing threat of cyber attacks from foreign governments," said a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. "We take all allegations of hacking seriously and will continue to work with our international partners to address these threats."
The accusations have sparked concerns about the potential impact on global trade and security. "This is not just an issue between China and the United States, but also affects other countries that rely on international standard time," said a spokesperson for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The incident has also raised questions about the role of private servers in concealing cyber attacks. "Private servers can be used to mask the origin of attacks, making it difficult to track down the perpetrators," said a cybersecurity expert who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Chinese government has vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its national security and prevent future breaches. The incident is likely to further strain relations between Washington and Beijing, which have been tense in recent years over issues such as trade and human rights.
As the situation continues to unfold, experts warn that the consequences of cyber attacks can be far-reaching and devastating. "Cyber attacks can have a ripple effect on global markets and economies," said a spokesperson for the World Economic Forum.
*Reporting by Slashdot.*
