CCP-Backed Flax Typhoon Uses Trusted Software Against Victims: Researchers

‘Attackers don’t need their own tools when they can corrupt yours,’ the new report reads.

Attendees pass an electronic display showing recent cyberattacks in China at the China Internet Security Conference in Beijing on Sept. 12, 2017. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo

The Chinese regime-backed cybercampaign known as Flax Typhoon is using trusted software against victims, bypassing the need for malware, according to an Oct. 14 report by cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest.

The report highlights how any system with backend access must be treated as a high risk and a top priority, with evolving capabilities that allow hackers to maintain access even when the system is wiped.