Authored by AG News Staff via American Greatness,
Chinese-linked hackers have allegedly been impersonating American artificial intelligence experts, including a former White House official, in a targeted cyberespionage campaign aimed at obtaining sensitive information about U.S. AI policymaking.
Cybersecurity firm Proofpoint revealed Thursday that a hacking group it identifies as TA419 has been attempting to steal passwords from individuals at American and Japanese think tanks, defense contractors, universities and law firms since at least 2025.
Proofpoint attributed the activity to Chinese hackers based on the malware, infrastructure and targeting patterns associated with the attacks, which the company said align with Beijing's intelligence priorities.
The latest operation involved fraudulent emails appearing to originate from prominent AI and national security experts, including Lynne Parker, former principal deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The messages typically invited recipients to participate in AI-related projects or collaborations before directing them to fraudulent websites designed to steal login credentials.
Among those targeted was Alex Engler, a former White House official
