China hacking: Cybersecurity firm says Chinese hackers breached six US state agencies

Chinese hackers linked to the government accessed local government agencies in at least six U.S. states in an ongoing information-gathering operation, cybersecurity firm Mandiant said. The hackers, using a software flaw that was revealed in December, targeted departments including health, transport, labor, education, agriculture and courts. While the hackers’ motives aren’t clear, their victims are “consistent with an espionage operation,” the firm said.