Washington, 07 March (H.S.):

American investigators suspect state-sponsored hackers from China have infiltrated a sensitive internal computer network used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to manage domestic surveillance orders, according to sources familiar with the ongoing probe.

The intrusion targets a system that stores critical data on surveillance warrants and related operations, potentially exposing sensitive details about monitoring activities within the United States. While the full extent of the breach remains unclear, officials describe it as a significant cybersecurity incident that could compromise national security tools.

Early assessments indicate the hackers, believed to be affiliated with the Chinese government, gained unauthorized access through sophisticated methods typical of advanced persistent threats. The investigation, still in its preliminary stages, has not yet determined the precise scope of data exfiltrated or the methods employed, but cybersecurity experts warn that such networks often contain metadata on targets, timelines, and legal authorizations.

This development unfolds amid heightened US-China tensions over cyber espionage. Reliable reports from cybersecurity firms like Mandiant and CrowdStrike highlight a pattern of Chinese-linked groups, such as APT41, targeting US government infrastructure.

A 2025 FireEye analysis documented over 20 similar incursions into federal systems, often aimed at intelligence-gathering rather than disruption.The breach raises alarms about vulnerabilities in legacy FBI networks, which rely on outdated software despite recent upgrades under the Biden administration's cybersecurity push.

In response, federal agencies have reportedly isolated affected segments and launched a full forensic review, drawing on tools from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).No official statements have emerged from US authorities or Beijing, but the incident echoes prior revelations, including the 2020 SolarWinds hack attributed to Russia and 2023 Microsoft Exchange breaches linked to China.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar