Hacked Devices Are Gateways for Chinese Nation-State Hackers

Routing Malicious Traffic Through Hacked IoT Devices Is Leading to 'IoC Extinction' Mathew J. Schwartz (euroinfosec) • April 23, 2026

Covert networks comprised of hacked domestic devices underpin a mounting number of Chinese nation-state hacking operations, warned British, U.S. and a slew of other national cybersecurity agencies.

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Mainly Western government agencies on Thursday warned that the majority of Chinese nation-state threat actors now funnel communications through compromised edge devices located inside the same country as their target. These networks comprise hacked small office, home office routers, Internet of Things equipment and smart devices such as web cameras, digital video recorders, firewalls as well as network-attached-storage devices.

"We have seen a deliberate shift in cyber groups based in China utilizing these networks to hide their malicious activity in an attempt to avoid accountability," said Paul Chichester, director ...