Chinese hackers have breached the email account of US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The hackers are believed to have accessed Burns’ email account in an espionage operation that also targeted other US government officials.
The report said that the hackers were able to access Burns’ email account by exploiting a flaw in Microsoft’s Exchange Server software. The flaw allowed the hackers to gain access to Burns’ email account without needing his password.
The hackers are believed to have accessed Burns’ email account for several months before they were discovered. During that time, they are believed to have downloaded hundreds of thousands of individual emails.
The emails that were accessed are believed to contain sensitive information about US policy towards China. The information could be used by the Chinese government to gain an advantage in its dealings with the United States.
The US government has not yet commented on the report. However, Microsoft has confirmed that the flaw in Exchange Server software was exploited by Chinese hackers.
The breach of Burns’ email account is the latest in a series of cyberattacks against US government officials. In recent years, Chinese hackers have also targeted the email accounts of US senators, members of the House of Representatives, and other high-ranking officials.
The cyberattacks against US government officials are part of a broader campaign by China to steal sensitive information from the United States. The Chinese government has been accused of using cyberattacks to gain an advantage in trade negotiations, to steal military secrets, and to influence US elections.
The US government has taken steps to improve its cybersecurity, but it is still vulnerable to cyberattacks. The breach of Burns’ email account is a reminder that the Chinese government is a major threat to US national security.
