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China is accusing the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of launching advanced cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and essential industries during the Asian Winter Games held in February. The Chinese government is alleging that the NSA's actions included targeting key systems used for registration, timekeeping, and competition entry at the Games. These systems, according to Chinese officials, held vast amounts of sensitive personal data and the attacks may have tried to implant backdoors.

China has publicly identified three alleged NSA agents they claim were directly involved in the cyber operations. These individuals are Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson. They are accused of being members of the NSA's Tailored Access Operations (TAO) offensive cyber unit, and Chinese authorities have reportedly placed them on a wanted list. State-run media outlet China Daily stated that the NSA used front organizations to purchase servers in Europe and Asia to conceal its tracks and acquire the tools used to breach Chinese systems.

The accusations also extend to American academic institutions, with the University of California and Virginia Tech being implicated in allegedly providing technical infrastructure to support the cyberattacks. China's Foreign Ministry has condemned the alleged malicious cyber activity and urged the U.S. to take a responsible attitude on cybersecurity issues and cease all attacks and groundless vilification against China. The U.S. has not yet issued a formal response to these allegations.

ImgSrc: www.cybersecuri

References :

• The Register - Security: China names alleged US snoops over Asian Winter Games attacks
• www.cybersecurity-insiders.com: China accuses US of launching advanced Cyber Attacks on its infrastructure
• CyberScoop: Chinese law enforcement places NSA operatives on wanted list over alleged cyberattacks
• DataBreaches.Net: China accuses US of launching ‘advanced’ cyberattacks, names alleged NSA agents
• www.scworld.com: China's allegation that NSA hacked Asian Winter Games draws suspicion
• PCMag UK security: Police in the Chinese city of Harbin say three NSA operatives disrupted the 2025 Asian Winter Games and hacked Huawei.
• www.csoonline.com: China accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) on Tuesday of launching “advanced†cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, targeting essential industries.
• Metacurity: China accuses NSA of 'advanced cyberattacks' during the Asian Winter Games

Classification:

• HashTags: #Cybersecurity #China #NSA
• Company: NSA, University of California
• Target: United States
• Attacker: China
• Feature: Cyber Espionage
• Type: Espionage
• Severity: Medium