Cyberattacks have become a growing concern in recent years. Many hackers target businesses and government systems to steal valuable data or disrupt services.
One such hacker, Guan Tianfeng, has become the subject of a massive manhunt. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to his arrest, Trend writes.
Tianfeng is believed to be behind a 2020 cyberattack that affected more than 80,000 devices worldwide.
Tianfeng is accused of hacking firewalls and cybersecurity systems across the globe. In 2020, he and his team exploited a vulnerability in firewalls from the British cybersecurity company Sophos.
This attack infected around 81,000 devices, including those used by U.S. companies and a government agency. The FBI's reward aims to gather information to bring him into custody.
Tianfeng worked for the Chinese company Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd. This company allegedly provided services to China's Ministry of Public Security.
It is reported that the company created tools to exploit foreign networks and access valuable information. These tools helped Tianfeng and his team carry out the attack.
The hackers used a "zero-day" vulnerability to target firewalls. The malware they developed stole data and encrypted files if victims tried to remove it.
To cover their tracks, the hackers set up fake domains to mimic official Sophos websites. However, Sophos quickly responded by issuing a security update within two days.
In retaliation, Tianfeng's team added a ransomware component to the malware, making it harder for victims to recover their files. Despite this, many victims were able to restore their data.
The attack's wide-reaching impact, including targeting a U.S. government system, explains the significant reward offered by the FBI.
Catching Tianfeng is a top priority for U.S. authorities in the ongoing battle against international cybercrime.
