China: Cyber Activities Probably Prelude to Election Espionage (CIA WIRe2020-05063, 01 Jul 2020)

China: Cyber Activities Probably Prelude to Election Espionage. China is probing the presidential campaign for opportunities to tailor collection and gather insight on policy positions on US-Chinese issues. As the 2020 election approaches, the IC has detected Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors targeting the former Vice President's presidential campaign, probably to gather intelligence that could enable future operations, the first instance this election cycle that we have seen them directly targeting a US presidential campaign. China has also conducted cyber espionage against other US election-related entities. The IC assesses that China does not currently intend to covertly interfere to try to sway the outcome of the election, although this activity could enable such operations, if Beijing made a decision to do so. As of 20 May, APT31 actors had sent spear-phishing e-mails containing tracking links to the G-mail accounts of staffers associated with a presidential campaign. On 4 June, Google announced that APT31 was targeting the campaign. Google and the FBI both briefed campaign officials on the Chinese cyber operations shortly after discovering the activity. Google officials have publicly stated that the spear-phishing attempts were unsuccessful. Produced By: CIA. Product Type: World Intelligence Review. Document Number: WIRe2020-05063. Publication Date: 01 Jul 2020. Produced jointly under the auspices of the Chief of Analysis, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency.