Chinese-linked cyber attack on US government agencies 2026
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
US revises statements suggesting Chinese hackers attacked agencies
The Justice Department said it corrected the August 26 release because it described all agencies as victims whereas the government's affidavit made clear that all were targeted but only some were compromised.
An FBI affidavit said the attempted breach of NASA was unsuccessful due to the agency's patching of targeted software.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson said the US uses cybersecurity to smear or discredit China.
“opposes the US overstretching the concept of national security and using it as a pretext to impose discriminatory restrictions on Chinese companies and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies”
DOJ alleges Chinese hackers target NASA and key US agencies
Federal officials say the QTFY group worked for China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company.
The Justice Department alleges that Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company offered hacking services to paying customers, including China's Ministry of State Security and People's Liberation Army.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the tools were used by PRC cyber actors to hide the origin of their attacks.
Chinese state-sponsored hacker group targeted Fed, NASA, and DOJ
QTFY was employed by Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co., a China-based company.
John Harold Rogers, a former senior advisor to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for making false statements to federal investigators about sharing restricted information about monetary policy and the Federal Open Market Committee with Chinese intelligence operatives.
The seized internet domains were hard-coded into both the QScan and QTRouter malware, and the seizures made both platforms inoperable.
Chinese-linked hackers attack NASA, Senate, and US government agencies
The infrastructure had been used to compromise critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks in the US and elsewhere since at least 2018.
The United States disrupted a China-affiliated hacking operation that targeted US government bodies including the Department of Justice, NASA, the Federal Reserve, and the US Senate.
The FBI's Cyber Division, federal prosecutors in California, and the San Diego field office led the investigation.