Breach, Threat Intelligence, Data Security

Chinese national pleads guilty to hacking into defense contractors

A Chinese citizen pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a long-term conspiracy to hack into the computer systems of several major U.S. defense manufacturers in an attempt to steal and then export sensitive information to China.

Su Bin, also known as Stephen Su and Stephen Subin, pleaded guilty in the Central District of California. He faces five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, the Department of Justice said in a written release.

“Su Bin admitted to playing an important role in a conspiracy, originating in China, to illegally access sensitive military data, including data relating to military aircraft that are indispensable in keeping our military personnel safe,” said John P. Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the DoJ.

The data taken by Bin and his cohorts concerned the U.S. Air Force C-17 transport plane and several fighters.

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