Chinese-linked hackers stole U.S. and Canadian research data for over a year, Google says

A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a year before being discovered, according to a report published by Google on Monday.

The campaign, which ran between September 2023 and November 2025, targeted information related to defence intelligence, Indo-Pacific military strategy, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, cyber warfare programmes and medical research, according to researchers at Google's Threat Intelligence Group.

Google did not identify the affected organisations but said they collectively employ thousands of people and manage research budgets worth billions of dollars.

Hackers sought sensitive strategic information

The targeted institutions worked across a wide range of fields, including drug discovery, clinical trials, public health policy and military readiness.

Google attributed the operation to a relatively new cyber-espionage group it tracks as UNC6508.

Luke McNamara, deputy chief analyst at Google's Threat Intelligence Group, said the group's tactics were broadly consistent with long-standing Chinese cyber-espionage activities focused on gathering information of interest to the Chinese government.

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the U.S. did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Beijing has repeatedly denied carrying out or supporting illegal hacking operations.

Attack exploited vulnerabilities in REDCap servers

According to Google's report, the earliest known activity linked to the campaign dates back to September 2023, when hackers exploited vulnerabilities in servers running REDCap, a web application widely used by universities, hospitals and non-profit organisations to manage surveys and databases.

The attackers used custom-made malware to steal legitimate REDCap login credentials and gain access to targeted networks.

Once inside, they created an automated system that forwarded emails containing nearly 150 selected keywords and search terms to a Gmail account under their control.

REDCap did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Search terms reveal focus on defence and technology

The list of keywords included phone numbers and email addresses associated with targeted organisations, as well as terms linked to geopolitical policy, military strategy, advanced technologies and medical research.

The operation's focus on sensitive strategic sectors suggests an effort to gather intelligence spanning both national security and scientific innovation.

Compromised organisations notified

Google said it eventually identified multiple compromised institutions across the U.S. and Canada and notified each of the affected organisations.

The findings highlight the continued threat posed by state-linked cyber-espionage campaigns targeting research institutions, particularly those working on advanced technologies and defence-related projects that are increasingly viewed as critical to national security.

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