Google Details Extensive Chinese Hacking Campaign Aimed at Research Organizations

Google’s Threat Intelligence Group on Monday revealed that a China-linked hacking group spent more than a year secretly stealing data from academic, medical, and military research institutions across the United States and Canada before being detected.

According to a recent report, the attackers repeatedly sought information related to defense intelligence, military strategy in the Indo-Pacific, artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicles, cyber warfare programs, and medical research between September 2023 and November 2025.

The campaign reportedly began in 2023, when the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in servers running REDCap, a web application widely used by nonprofits and research organizations to build and manage online surveys and databases. The attackers deployed custom-built malware and stole legitimate REDCap login credentials to gain access to targeted networks.

Researchers said the group then established an automated system that forwarded emails containing any of nearly 159 predefined keywords and terms to Gmail accounts under their control.

The keywords reportedly included phone numbers and email addresses associated with targeted organizations, as well as terms related to geostrategic policy, military strategy, advanced technologies, and medical research.

Google ultimately identified multiple compromised organizations across the United States and Canada, highlighting the broad scope of the cyber-espionage campaign.

With Inputs from Reuters

Research institutions can prevent future cyberattacks by enhancing cybersecurity measures, including securing servers and credentials, and potentially leveraging AI for defense.

Chinese state-backed hackers are a significant cybersecurity threat to the European Union, employing subtle methods for long-term access and intelligence gathering. These operations differ from more visible Russian attacks.

PM Modi, during his visit to Slovakia, emphasized a human-centric, ethical approach to AI, welcoming the India Chair on AI at a Slovak university. He stressed AI's future should prioritize trust, responsibility, and human dignity alongside innovation.