Microsoft said that Storm-0940, a hacker group believed to be linked to the Chinese government, had carried out cyberattacks using ARTEX against several hundred companies around the world since September. The targets spanned a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, defense, automotive, financial services and media.
According to an investigation by Microsoft, a hacker group linked to the Chinese government and believed to be Storm-0940 had been conducting cyberattacks against companies worldwide using ARTEX, a Chinese AI tool. The targets spanned a broad range of sectors and are believed to number several hundred companies.
The group is believed to have been active since around 2021. In the latest case, aerospace, defense, automotive, financial services and media were identified as the main sectors targeted. Direct involvement affecting Japanese companies is unknown at this time.
The article does not disclose details of the specific attack methods or the extent of the impact, but it points to sophisticated techniques using ARTEX and activity extending over a long period. Attention is expected to focus on what additional information emerges.
The report is expected to reignite debate over state-level involvement behind cyberattacks, and companies may move to strengthen their countermeasures.