NSA Allegedly Utilized 42 Cyber Tools in Multi-Stage Attack on Beijing Time Systems Reports MSS

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NSA Allegedly Utilized 42 Cyber Tools in Multi-Stage Attack on Beijing Time Systems Reports MSS

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of launching a multi-stage cyber attack targeting the National Time Service Center (NTSC). This attack, dated back to March 25, 2022, has been described as a premeditated intrusion driven by what China calls the U.S.’s status as a “hacker empire.”

Details of the Cyber Attack

The MSS claims to have gathered irrefutable evidence of the NSA’s involvement in the cyber attack, which aimed at compromising systems critical to national timekeeping. The NTSC, established in 1966 under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is responsible for maintaining and transmitting the national standard time known as Beijing Time.

Consequences of the Attack

According to the MSS, any cyberattack on NTSC could severely disrupt various sectors, risking network communication breakdowns, financial system failures, power supply interruptions, transportation paralysis, and issues with space launches. The MSS asserts that the thwarting of the attack protected the integrity of Beijing Time.

Exploited Methods

The NSA allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in an unnamed foreign SMS service.
This compromise reportedly targeted mobile devices belonging to NTSC staff, leading to data theft.
On April 18 of the subsequent year, the NSA allegedly used stolen credentials to infiltrate NTSC systems.

Between August 2023 and June 2024, the MSS reported that a new cyber warfare platform was established by the NSA, activating 42 specialized tools to conduct high-intensity attacks on NTSC’s internal networks. The primary objective was to disrupt the high-precision ground-based timing system.

Methodology of the Attack

The attacks were conducted mainly during late night to early morning hours in Beijing. To conceal their actions, the NSA utilized virtual private servers located in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

The MSS described various techniques employed in these attacks, including:

Forging digital certificates to evade antivirus protections.
Using robust encryption algorithms to eliminate traces of their activities.

China’s Response and Allegations

The MSS stated that China’s national security agencies successfully neutralized these cyber threats and have since bolstered their security measures to prevent future incidents.

China also reiterated its stance against the U.S., claiming that the NSA has been involved in numerous cyber operations across multiple regions, including Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America. The MSS posits that the U.S. uses technological bases in the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan to initiate these attacks while obscuring their tracks.

Moreover, the MSS accused the U.S. government of perpetuating the “China cyber threat theory” in an effort to mislead the public and distort the narrative surrounding cyberattacks.