Federal law‑enforcement officials in San Diego announced the seizure of two internet domains that were being used by a Chinese state‑sponsored cyber platform to target high‑profile U.S. government agencies and critical infrastructure. The operation, authorized by a federal court, neutralized the tools known as QScan and QTRouter.
National targets, local action
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California and Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office said the domains were essential for the malware’s communication network. According to court filings, the platforms infected thousands of devices worldwide, creating an obfuscation network that masked the origin of attacks.
Investigators traced the hacking operation to a Chinese group identified as QTFY, which worked through Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co. to provide services to Chinese intelligence and military arms. Among the reported targets were NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Departments of Energy, Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. Senate.
Government response
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the seizure sends a clear message to state‑sponsored hackers that they will be stopped and prosecuted. “We are here to ensure security for the American people and will use every tool we have to keep that promise,” Blanche said in a press release.
FBI San Diego’s Mark Remily emphasized the agency’s relentless effort to counter nation‑state cyber actors. “Through complex investigations, aggressive technical operations, and strong partnerships, we will continue to identify, disrupt, and impose costs on our cyber adversaries,” he said.
Legal analyst Bryce G. Poole of the Edwin Meese III Institute praised the action as a textbook example of the rule of law in action. He noted that the Department of Justice obtained a lawful court order and executed the seizure through the court system, protecting national security interests.
Calls for a tougher stance on China
Ali Holcomb, a national‑security fellow at Advancing American Freedom and former DOJ spokesperson during the first Trump administration, urged the current administration to adopt a harder line on China. “The CCP is our growing adversary and is weaponizing technological advances to target the U.S., be it AI, social media, or hacking platforms,” Holcomb wrote, suggesting the reinstatement of the China Initiative.
The operation underscores the ongoing threat posed by foreign cyber actors and highlights the importance of coordinated federal action to safeguard America’s critical infrastructure.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
