Chinese hackers pose as US AI experts, former officials to steal their passwords

Chinese hackers have been impersonating US AI experts, including a former government official, to try to steal emails from experts in AI at think tanks, universities, and other organizations, the cybersecurity company Proofpoint said on Thursday.

In a report, Proofpoint said that it had watched the hackers — which it dubs “TA419” — regularly try to steal passwords from people working for US or Japanese think tanks, defense contractors, universities, and law firms since as far back as 2025.