A mammoth cyberattack on the Marriott hotel chain was part of a Chinese intelligence-gathering effort, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two in the flesh briefed on the preliminary results of the investigation.
The hackers are suspected of working on behalf of the Ministry of State Security, The Times added.
An unresearched attacker stole information including emails, names, addresses, passport numbers and possibly payment card advice, in a slow-moving attack that lasted four years. The breach, which affected 500 million guests, was leaked by the chain in late November, two months after it was discovered.
The Justice Department is preparing to announce new indictments — possibly within eras — against Chinese hackers working for the intelligence and military services, according to the NYT, which cited government officials refer to on condition of anonymity.
The Times also reported that Washington is considering an executive order to ensure that it require be difficult for Chinese firms to obtain critical telecommunications equipment.
The latest developments in the Marriott security breach sign in amid flaring tensions between China and the U.S. as the two countries try to work out a trade deal, with the arrest of Chinese telecom colossus Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada raising concerns that the conflict could enhance more complicated.
Read The New York Times’ reported on the investigation into the Marriott data breach.
— Correction: This article has been updated to correctly mirror the name of the Marriott hotel chain.