Microsoft accuses China of hacking Namibia

Microsoft has accused China-based cyber threat groups of targeting entities in Namibia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Mauritius and Trinidad and Tobago.

In its Digital Defence Report 2022, the multinational tech giant said it has observed “widespread targeting of smaller nations around the world by Chinese state and state-affiliated threat groups, suggesting China is likely using cyberespionage as a component of its global economic and military influence”.

According to Microsoft, the attacks on small countries like Namibia is in line with China’s Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). The initiative attempted to revive a comprehensive investment framework with the European Union (EU), and negotiating a new regional trade agreement with 15 countries in Asia Pacific known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

“Microsoft assesses China will continue to utilise cyber collection as a tool to help advance its strategic political, military, and economic goals due to observed cyber operations and the breadth of entities targeted,” the company said.

Microsoft continued: “In today’s complex geopolitical climate, Chinese state and state-affiliated threat actors conducting cyber operations often aim to further the country’s strategic military, economic, and foreign relations goals as part of China’s objective to attain competitive advantage.”