UPDATE: Vietnam-Backed Hackers Target Carmakers

Cyber attacks against carmakers by “state-aligned” hackers in Vietnam have accelerated sharply this year, Bloomberg News reports.

The hackers, known as APT32, have been at it since 2014, says FireEye Inc., a California-based cyber security firm. But it tells Bloomberg that the group ramped up its attacks in early February, apparently in an effort to support the government’s goal of developing a domestic auto industry.

The hacking has focused on carmakers and suppliers in southeast Asia, according to FireEye. The firm tells Bloomberg the hackers appeared to be looking for company operating techniques rather than production or product secrets.

FireEye published a detailed report about similar attacks in 2017. As was the case then, Vietnam’s ministry of foreign affairs insists that the government doesn’t allow cyber attacks and says it is willing to work with international agencies to curb the threat.

The hacking relies heavily on “phishing” techniques: websites infected with malware and emails that lure their recipients to divulge data, Bloomberg reports.