WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States has disrupted a Chinese hacking operation that authorities said was behind cyberattacks targeting some of the country's most sensitive government agencies, including the Justice Department, NASA, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Senate.

The Justice Department said on August 26 it had seized domains used by two hacking platforms, known as "QScan" and "QTRouter," that were allegedly used in the campaign.

An affidavit also identified the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health and four unnamed companies in the United States and South Korea among the hackers' victims.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing routinely denies responsibility for hacking activity.

According to the Justice Department, China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company operated the platforms. The department said the firm's clients included China's civilian intelligence agency, the Ministry of State Security, and its military, the People's Liberation Army.

We could not immediately locate contact details for Nanjing Xinjiuwei.

The affidavit said the group's computer infrastructure had been used to compromise critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks in the United States and around the world since at least 2018.

Experts who track Chinese cyber activity say private contractors routinely conduct high-profile intrusions on behalf of various Chinese government agencies.

"Over the last decade, the number of companies offering niche offensive services has exploded," said Dakota Cary, a China analyst with cybersecurity company SentinelOne.