(Corrects the name to ‘Kecheng’ in the third paragraph)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on alleged hacker Yin Kecheng and cybersecurity firm Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co, accusing both of involvement in a series of hacks on U.S. telecommunications companies.
The hacks, known as Salt Typhoon, allegedly revealed a large portion of US call records to Chinese spies and alarmed the US intelligence community. In some cases, hackers reportedly intercepted conversations, including conversations between prominent US politicians and government officials. Some lawmakers have described them as the worst telecom hacks in US history.
In a statement, the Ministry of Finance of Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co. described as a hacking company with strong ties to China’s Ministry of State Security, an intelligence agency. Yin Kecheng was said to live in Shanghai, worked as a hacker for more than a decade, and also had ties to MSS. He is further said to have been linked to the recent break-in at the US Treasury.
Reuters was not immediately able to reach Yin Kecheng or Sichuan Juxinhe. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Beijing routinely denies responsibility for cyberespionage campaigns.
