China-linked hackers posed as former US officials, Anthropic employee to target AI experts

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ByDavid DiMolfetta,
Cybersecurity Reporter, Nextgov/FCW

October 1, 2026 05:00 AM ET

Proofpoint identified phishing campaigns that borrowed prominent figures’ identities to approach U.S. policy researchers before attempting to steal access to their cloud accounts.

Chinese hackers impersonated a former senior White House technology official, a former State Department economist and a senior Anthropic employee in attempts to break into the cloud accounts of artificial intelligence policy experts, according to findings from cybersecurity company Proofpoint released Thursday.

The campaigns targeted researchers at think tanks, universities and law firms, using invitations to advise on AI policy and export controls to start conversations. Once recipients responded, the attackers sent links designed to steal their Microsoft login credentials, per the findings.

Among those impersonated were Lynne Parker, a former principal deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Heidi Crebo-Rediker, who served...

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