Harbin, China (Agencies): Authorities in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, have issued wanted notices with rewards for three agents from the US National Security Agency (NSA), accusing them of orchestrating cyberattacks targeting the 9th Asian Winter Games held in February. The suspects, identified as Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson, are said to belong to the NSA’s Office of Tailored Access Operations.
The cyberattacks reportedly targeted critical network infrastructures, including systems linked to event registration, arrival management, and information distribution. Investigations revealed that the operation aimed to disrupt the event and steal sensitive data, including the personal information of participating athletes. China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center confirmed that 63.24% of the traced attacks originated from the US.
Further investigation uncovered involvement from the University of California and Virginia Tech, institutions with ties to the NSA. Both universities are accused of contributing to the cyber operations, with their IP addresses linked to the attacks.
The cyberattacks extended beyond the Winter Games, reportedly targeting China’s critical industries, including energy, transportation, defense research, and communications. Experts described the operation as meticulously planned, employing advanced techniques such as exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and activating pre-embedded backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems.
Li Bosong, a cybersecurity expert, stated that the attacks posed a severe threat to national sovereignty and security. However, the incident also highlighted China’s growing capability to counter large-scale, high-frequency cyberattacks, reflecting strengthened national security measures and technological expertise.
The case underscores escalating tensions in global cybersecurity, with China pledging to take decisive action against cyber intrusion and espionage crimes to safeguard its digital and national interests.