Suspected Chinese hackers posed as US AI insiders, Proofpoint says

Proofpoint identified a Chinese-linked hacking group, TA419, that impersonated prominent U.S. AI experts to target AI policy specialists at think tanks, universities, and law firms. The attackers sent emails posing as a senior Anthropic employee, former White House tech official Lynne Parker, and former State Department economist Caroline Crebo-Rediker, requesting participation in fictitious panels and providing malware-laden attachments. The campaign, active since 2025, aimed to influence U.S. AI policy discussions rather than steal technology.