China uncovers US cyberattack targeting 'Beijing Time' center

China's Ministry of State Security has uncovered what it calls a major US cyberattack against the nation's National Time Service Center, accusing the US National Security Agency (NSA) of infiltrating systems that maintain "Beijing Time," state broadcaster CCTV reported yesterday.

According to the ministry, the NSA's operation was "meticulously planned and systematic," involving long-term surveillance and data theft from the centre's staff and servers.

Investigators allege that since March 2022, US operatives have exploited a vulnerability in a foreign mobile service to gain remote control of employees' phones and steal sensitive information.

By April 2023, the attackers had breached the centre's computer systems using stolen credentials, probing its network architecture. Between August 2023 and June 2024, the NSA allegedly deployed a new cyberwarfare platform with 42 specialised attack tools to target internal networks and attempt deeper penetration into the country's high-precision timing infrastructure – with the goal of pre-positioning capabilities to "paralyse" the system, the report said.

The ministry said the attacks were launched late at night, using virtual private servers across multiple continents to disguise origins and advanced encryption to erase traces.

China claims its security services "blocked and neutralised" the operation, preserving the stability of "Beijing Time."

Located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the National Time Service Centre is responsible for generating and maintaining "Beijing Time," which underpins critical national infrastructure, including communications, finance, power grids, transportation, mapping, and defence.

China warned that any disruption could trigger widespread system failures – from financial chaos to power outages and even satellite launch malfunctions – with "incalculable consequences." - Shanghai Daily