China-Linked Hacking Group Targeting Text Messages, FireEye Says

A state-linked Chinese hacking group is using malware to steal SMS text messages from high-ranking military and government targets, according to cybersecurity company FireEye Inc.

The hacking technology, known as MESSAGETAP, “allows China to efficiently steal data from multitudes of sources from one location,” Steven Stone, FireEye’s director of advanced practices, said in a statement. “Espionage-related theft and intrusions have been long occurring, but what is new is the vast scale due to the use of this tool.”

The company’s finding, released in a blog on Thursday, underscores the growing concerns about China’s use of technology for espionage and ...