In 2012, a cyber sleuth rigged up a fake water plant in his basement.
Within 48 hours, he exposed how China stole America's $1.5 Trillion fighter jet.
How?
A thread about how China "borrows" what it can't build:
Within 48 hours, he exposed how China stole America's $1.5 Trillion fighter jet.
How?
A thread about how China "borrows" what it can't build:
Meet Kyle Wilhoit.
He created a virtual water plant — complete with fake measurements, documentation, and a website claiming to be in Arnold, Missouri.
His goal? To see who would try to hack it.
The experiment worked too well:
He created a virtual water plant — complete with fake measurements, documentation, and a website claiming to be in Arnold, Missouri.
His goal? To see who would try to hack it.
The experiment worked too well:
Within days, the plant was swarmed by:
• North Korean military hackers
• Russian ransomware gangs
• Various international trolls
But one attack pattern stood out...
• North Korean military hackers
• Russian ransomware gangs
• Various international trolls
But one attack pattern stood out...
Someone was methodically stealing equipment documentation and beaming it to servers in China.
Following the trail, Kyle discovered something bigger: Unit 61398.
A Chinese military hacking division that had been running "Operation Shady RAT" since 2006.
Their technique...
Following the trail, Kyle discovered something bigger: Unit 61398.
A Chinese military hacking division that had been running "Operation Shady RAT" since 2006.
Their technique...
Simple but devastating.
Send targeted emails posing as coworkers, wait for someone to open an attachment, then build "RAT caves":
Hidden tunnels into company networks that could stay undetected for years.
Send targeted emails posing as coworkers, wait for someone to open an attachment, then build "RAT caves":
Hidden tunnels into company networks that could stay undetected for years.
In 2007, they hit the jackpot: Lockheed Martin's servers.
Inside lay the crown jewel of American military aviation — complete technical plans for the F-35, the most advanced stealth fighter ever built.
Price tag? $1.5 trillion.
The breach remained undetected until...
Inside lay the crown jewel of American military aviation — complete technical plans for the F-35, the most advanced stealth fighter ever built.
Price tag? $1.5 trillion.
The breach remained undetected until...
In 2015, Edward Snowden's leaks revealed the truth:
China didn't need sophisticated cyber weapons or undercover agents. Just a few convincing emails to the right employees.
By then, it was too late.
China didn't need sophisticated cyber weapons or undercover agents. Just a few convincing emails to the right employees.
By then, it was too late.
In 2012, China unveiled the Shenyang FC-31, a stealth fighter bearing striking similarities to the F-35.
The copying was so precise; even the engine intake designs matched.
The move accelerated China's military aviation program by 15-20 years.
The cost: A few emails.
The copying was so precise; even the engine intake designs matched.
The move accelerated China's military aviation program by 15-20 years.
The cost: A few emails.
The savings: Hundreds of billions in R&D.
Sometimes the biggest heists don't need guns or masks.
Today, Unit 61398 has evolved. They're more careful, using non-state actors and better hiding their tracks.
But the strategy remains:
Sometimes the biggest heists don't need guns or masks.
Today, Unit 61398 has evolved. They're more careful, using non-state actors and better hiding their tracks.
But the strategy remains:
Why spend decades developing technology when you can steal it in seconds?
And the F-35 theft was just one success story.
As one expert put it: "Russia is like hurricanes. China is climate change."
And the F-35 theft was just one success story.
As one expert put it: "Russia is like hurricanes. China is climate change."
And that's a wrap.
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Full credit to CyberNews whose insights made this thread possible. Watch full video here:
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