Cyberattack on China Supercomputer: 10PB Data Stolen

One of the largest data thefts in cybersecurity history has reportedly occurred: a hacker group calling itself "FlamingChina" allegedly breached China's National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) in Tianjin, exfiltrating over 10 petabytes of data. If confirmed, this would be the largest known data theft from China to date.

How the breach unfolded

The attackers maintained access for approximately six months, infiltrating the system through a compromised VPN connection. Over this extended period, they systematically extracted vast quantities of sensitive data. The stolen information reportedly includes aircraft simulations, missile schematics, and military research documents. The NSCC serves over 6,000 clients across Chinese defense and science agencies, amplifying the potential damage of the breach dramatically.

Public disclosure on Telegram

Samples of the stolen data were posted on Telegram in early February, suggesting the operation had both intelligence-gathering and public demonstration objectives. Cybersecurity researchers are currently analyzing the samples to verify their authenticity and assess the full scope of compromised information.

Strategic implications

The scale of 10 petabytes is staggering -- equivalent to roughly 10 million hours of HD video or billions of documents. The theft of military research data could deal a significant blow to China's defense programs and reignite international debates about cybersecurity, state-sponsored hacking, and the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure. The incident underscores that even the most secure government systems remain susceptible to sophisticated, persistent attacks when threat actors are given enough time and a single point of entry.