Beijing, China - China slapped back against US "smearing" after Washington accused Beijing-linked hackers of targeting government bodies including the Department of Justice, NASA, and the US Senate.
In a notice released Wednesday, the DOJ announced it had acquired court authorization to seize the domains of cyber actors thought linked to numerous hacking attacks that targeted US government infrastructure and networks.
Notably, it alleged that "QScan" and "QTRouter" were created by a group known as "QTFY" that was sponsored by Beijing. These hacking platforms then targeted NASA, the Federal Reserve, the DOJ, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the US Senate.
"State-sponsored malicious hackers preying on America's critical infrastructure will be stopped and prosecuted," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "We are here to ensure security for the American people and will use every tool we have to keep that promise."
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau had disrupted the botnet, explaining that it has "seized adversary infrastructure and shut these platforms down."
"Today's action is just the latest technical operation against PRC-sponsored hacking," Patel said, using the acronym for People's Republic of China. "The FBI is surging efforts to shape adversary behavior and defend the homeland."
Beijing hit back against the allegations on Thursday, its foreign ministry accusing Washington of spreading "false information" and "distorting right and wrong."
"China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the US side's repeated wrongful practice of smearing China under the pretext of cybersecurity concerns," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters.
He urged Washington to abandon its "double standards and political manipulation."
"The United States is globally recognized as the world's biggest hacking and surveillance empire, its track record is notorious and the evidence is irrefutable," Lin continued.