Chinese Hackers APT41 Target Philippine Government, Steal Military Data on South China Sea

Jan 8, 2025, 06:35 AM

Chinese state-sponsored hackers, identified as the group APT41, have infiltrated the computer systems of the Philippine government, targeting the executive branch and stealing sensitive data, including military documents related to disputes over the South China Sea. The cyberattacks were identified as early as 2023 and continued through June 2024. The Philippine president's office was among the targets, with the breaches first detected in 2023 and again in August 2024. Despite the reported theft, a Philippine security official stated on January 7, 2025, that no sensitive information was compromised, describing the hacking attempt as a failure. The attacks are part of a broader espionage campaign against several Philippine institutions, with methods linked to APT41. China's Foreign Ministry has denied involvement, emphasizing opposition to all forms of hacking and cyberattacks.