FBI Places Bounty on Salt Typhoon: $10 Million Reward for Information on Notorious Chinese Hacking Group
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a massive manhunt for the infamous Chinese hacking collective, Salt Typhoon, with a reward of up to $10 million for any information that can lead to the identification and prosecution of its key members. The FBI's announcement comes as part of an ongoing effort to crack down on state-sponsored cyber threats from China.
For those who are willing to take on this challenge, earning $10 million is within reach. All they need to do is provide actionable insight into the inner workings of Salt Typhoon, a group known for its sophisticated cyber-attacks and breaches of multiple US telecommunications companies.
The Threat from Salt Typhoon
Salt Typhoon is just one of several Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups that have been linked to various malicious activities, including cyber-espionage, sabotage, and financial crimes. These groups, known as the "Typhoon" threat actors, are all based in China and have been involved in numerous high-profile attacks on US critical infrastructure firms.
The Salt Typhoon group has been particularly active in recent months, targeting multiple US telecommunications companies with its advanced cyber-attacks. The FBI investigation into this group's activities has revealed a broad and significant cyber campaign to leverage access into these networks and target victims on a global scale.
The Bounty: A $10 Million Reward
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10 million for any information that can lead to the identification and prosecution of Salt Typhoon's key members. This is part of the US Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which offers rewards for information about foreign government-linked individuals participating in certain malicious cyber activities against US critical infrastructure.
The FBI's announcement states that it is seeking information about specific individuals behind the Salt Typhoon campaign and their associated activity. This includes any information publicly tracked as "Salt Typhoon" and the compromise of multiple US telecommunications companies.
A Broader Campaign: Volt Typhoon Included
While the FBI's announcement specifically targets Salt Typhoon, it would seem that the bounty stretches beyond this group to other malicious actors that have attacked US critical infrastructure firms. One such group is Volt Typhoon, another Chinese state-sponsored group that has been observed targeting the same targets.
The Typhoon Threat Actors
The FBI and US Department of State are tracking multiple "Typhoon" threat actors, all of which are from China. These groups have been involved in a range of malicious activities, including cyber-espionage, sabotage, and financial crimes. Some of the notable groups include:
- Brass Typhoon
- Purple Typhoon
- Volt Typhoon
- Salt Typhoon
- Brodace Typhoon
- Salmon Typhoon
About the Author
Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career spanning over a decade, he has written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans.
Sead also holds several modules on content writing for Represent Communications. He is passionate about delivering high-quality content to his readers and helping them stay informed about the latest developments in IT and cybersecurity.