Bottom line: The US government has successfully disrupted Chinese state-sponsored hacking tools used to target critical infrastructure.
What's happening: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) took down alleged Chinese state-backed hacking tools used to scan and infect IoT devices, including those from Chinese companies Shenzhen Qihang Network Technology and Shenzhen LinkIt. The tools were allegedly used to target federal agencies and multiple industries, including the Federal Reserve and the US Senate, in an effort to steal sensitive data. The operation was carried out in coordination with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI.
What to do: Security leaders should review their IoT device security protocols and ensure they are not vulnerable to similar attacks, and consider implementing additional security measures, such as intrusion detection systems, to detect and prevent potential threats.