The Czech Republic has officially accused China-linked hacking group APT31 of carrying out a prolonged cyberattack on its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking a serious escalation in state-sponsored cyber espionage tensions.
State Actor Breached Czech Critical Infrastructure
The Czech government revealed that APT31, also known as Bronze Vinewood, Judgement Panda, and Violet Typhoon, infiltrated an unclassified but critical network of the foreign ministry. The attack reportedly began in 2022, though the full extent of the breach remains unclear.
“This malicious activity targeted critical infrastructure and persisted for an extended period,” the official statement said.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Who is APT31?
APT31 is a China-backed advanced persistent threat (APT) group publicly linked to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) and the Hubei State Security Department. Active since at least 2010, the group has a record of:
- Targeting government and defense supply chain organizations
- Using legitimate web services to mask command-and-control traffic
- Employing custom espionage backdoors like NanoSlate
International Pattern of Intrusion
This isn’t the first time APT31 has made headlines:
- 2020: Finland accused the group of breaching its Parliament.
- 2024: ESET reported an APT31 attack on a Central European government entity—possibly linked to the Czech incident.
The Czech government strongly condemned the operation, stating that it violates UN-endorsed norms for responsible state behavior in cyberspace.
Diplomatic Fallout Ahead?
By calling out Beijing directly, Czechia joins a growing list of countries challenging China’s cyber operations. The government emphasized that this type of behavior undermines China’s credibility and called for adherence to international cyber norms.
About the author – Ayush Chaurasia is a postgraduate student passionate about cybersecurity, threat hunting, and global affairs. He explores the intersection of technology, psychology, national security, and geopolitics through insightful writing