Chinese hackers reportedly steal nearly 100 GB of Indian immigration data.

China’s hackers are conducting widespread and organized cyber attacks on foreign governments and businesses, including India. The Washington Post reported that Chinese intelligence and cyber surveillance have accessed 95.2 gigabytes of Indian immigration data.

According to a report by The Post released on Thursday, hackers from Beijing claim they are exploiting vulnerabilities in software systems developed by companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The hackers allegedly have access to a cache of over 570 files, images, and chat logs, providing unprecedented insights into the activities of a company hired by Chinese government agencies for large-scale, on-demand data collection operations.

The documents originated from iSoon, a Chinese company based in Shanghai, providing hacking and data collection services to Chinese government agencies, security organizations, and state-owned businesses. They listed 80 overseas targets that iSoon hackers allegedly breached, including 95.2 gigabytes of immigration data from India and a 3 terabyte collection of call logs from South Korea’s LG U Plus telecom provider. The hacking tools are used by Chinese state agents to reveal users of social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), access emails, and conceal the online activities of overseas agents. Additionally, there are devices disguised as power strips and batteries that can compromise Wi-Fi networks.

I-Soon and Chinese authorities are investigating the source of the leaked files, according to two I-Soon employees who spoke to the AP. During a meeting held on Wednesday, I-Soon reassured employees that the leak would not significantly impact business operations and instructed them to carry on as usual. The employees, who provided their last names in accordance with common Chinese practice, requested anonymity out of fear of potential retaliation. US intelligence officials have expressed concerns about China’s targeted hacking efforts, which they view as the most significant long-term threat to US security. Additionally, New Delhi has taken measures to block Chinese mobile apps, citing concerns that Beijing may be monitoring them.