Volkswagen targeted by hackers for years stealing thousands of files, trace points to China

Between 2010 and 2015, Volkswagen was subject to repeated cyberattacks resulting in theft of approximately 19,000 files related to internal combustion engine development, transmissions, and alternative propulsion technologies. Internal documents reviewed by ZDF and Spiegel reconstruct a previously unknown large-scale cyber espionage operation attributed to Chinese state hackers, with IP addresses tracing back to military intelligence near Beijing. Volkswagen confirmed the incidents are about ten years old. Germany’s Federal Office for Security and Information Technology views Chinese cyber espionage targeting German automotive industry as highly likely. China officially denied the accusations and condemned cyber spying activities.