Taiwan’s Largest Telecom, Chunghwa Telecom, fell victim to hackers who accessed “sensitive information,” including military and government documents, and sold it on the dark web, the island’s ministry of national defense confirmed.

The hack was first reported by local news channel TVBS, which revealed a screenshot of a post in which the hackers announced the sale of 1.7 terabytes of data from Chunghwa Telecom, including government contracts.

The defense ministry stated that the hackers obtained sensitive information from Chunghwa Telecom and sold it on the dark web, including documents from various government departments such as the armed forces, foreign affairs ministry, coast guard, and others.

Taiwan has been identified as a top target for cyber-security attacks, with some experts suggesting that the tactics used against Taiwanese infrastructure may be attributed to Chinese state-sponsored groups. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

The defense ministry clarified that the leaked air force contract and correspondence between the navy department and Chunghwa did not contain any confidential or classified information. They have urged the contractor involved to enhance their information security controls to prevent such incidents in the future.

The identity and location of the hackers were not disclosed in either the ministry statement or the TVBS report. Chunghwa Telecom, a publicly traded company, assured the Taiwan Stock Exchange that the suspected incident has not significantly impacted its operations.

Government officials have acknowledged that cyber threats from China are a form of “grey zone harassment” that occur on a near-daily basis, along with other provocations such as flying warplanes near the island and sending vessels to its surrounding waters. These tactics, while not considered acts of war, keep Taiwan’s military and digital security agencies on high alert.

Last year, Microsoft warned about the activities of a China-based group known as Flax Typhoon, which was targeting Taiwanese organizations for espionage purposes. The group intended to maintain access to these organizations for an extended period.

In conclusion, the cyber attack on Chunghwa Telecom serves as a grim reminder of the constant cyber threats faced by Taiwan. The incident highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and prevent future data breaches. Taiwan’s vulnerability to cyber attacks underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region and the challenges faced by the country in maintaining its digital security.

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