The US and Paraguay have conducted a joint cybersecurity assessment, uncovering infiltration of Paraguayan government systems by a Chinese espionage group.
This incident underscores “the importance of cooperation and strengthening critical infrastructure – particularly cyber and communications infrastructure – to reduce vulnerabilities,” according to the US Southern Command.
Both nations have pledged to “continue to work on strengthening their cybersecurity systems to build and strengthen the national and international system.”
Chinese Threats
The identified threat comes from “Flax Typhoon,” a hacking group linked to the Chinese government.
Active since 2021, the group has targeted several institutions in Taiwan and its allies, including Paraguay and the US.
Taiwan has frequently accused China of orchestrating cyberattacks, as Beijing’s claims over the island escalate tensions.
Microsoft recently reported that Flax Typhoon “intends to perform espionage and maintain access to organizations across a broad range of industries for as long as possible.”
Broader Cybersecurity Concerns
Last month, several US news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, reported that a cyberattack linked to the Chinese government had infiltrated the networks of multiple US broadband providers, potentially compromising systems used by the federal government for court-authorized network wiretapping requests.
Later, the US government confirmed the incident, though investigations into the hacks are still ongoing.
“The hackers may have targeted the systems used to provide court-approved access to communication systems used for investigations by law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” explained the Congressional Research Service.
The breach could have included access to presidential candidates’ communications during the last election campaign, as well as retrieving unencrypted communications such as phone calls and messages.