China's Router Hacking Threat: US and Japan Issue Warnings

The US and Japan have issued a joint advisory warning that Chinese government spies may be using Cisco routers to steal intellectual property and sensitive data. The advisory highlights the activities of BlackTech, a cyber-espionage group that can modify router firmware undetected and exploit domain-trust relationships to target international subsidiaries and headquarters in Japan and the US. While Cisco gear is specifically mentioned, the report notes that similar techniques could be used to set up backdoors in other networking equipment. BlackTech, also known as Palmerworm, targets government, industrial, technology, media, electronics, telecommunication, and defense players. The advisory emphasizes the need for companies to update, patch, and secure their network devices.