Chinese hackers breach Dutch semiconductor giant NXP

The breach was detected during a similar attack on Dutch airline Transavia. (Image source: MS Bing/DALL-E 3)

Chimera group infiltrated the network of Dutch semiconductor giant NXP, gaining access for over two years from late 2017 to the beginning of 2020. The breach remained undetected until late 2019.

Chinese-linked hacker group Chimera successfully infiltrated the network of NXP, the prominent Dutch semiconductor company, maintaining undetected access for over two years, according to recent reports. The breach, which occurred from late 2017 to early 2020, was exposed during an investigation into a similar attack on Dutch airline Transavia, a subsidiary of KLM, in September 2019.

Chimera’s sophisticated intrusion involved the use of its ChimeRAR hacker tool, and during the prolonged access period, the hackers allegedly stole intellectual property, including crucial chip designs. Although the extent of the theft is yet to be fully disclosed, NXP claims that the stolen data is sufficiently complex, making it challenging for unauthorized use. Consequently, the company did not inform the general public about the breach.

NXP, as Europe’s largest chipmaker, holds a significant position in the global semiconductor market, especially after acquiring Freescale, an American company, in 2015. The company is renowned for developing secure Mifare chips for public transportation in the Netherlands, as well as secure elements for Apple Pay, particularly the iPhone.

The unlocked and renewed Apple iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) is currently offered on Amazon with a 20% discount, priced at US$164.

NXP is said to have increased network security after the breach. The business upgraded its monitoring systems and tightened internal controls on data access and transfer.

Robert Gelo – News Writer – 12 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2023

I am an experienced technical journalist and editor with a background in public relations, advertising, marketing automation, social media, and artificial intelligence. In early 2021, I joined a registered Salesforce consultancy as its CMO. Before this, I had worked as a technology journalist and editor for business and tech media for a long time. Later, I transitioned to a role as a manager and PR and marketing consultant. Since 2008, I have been employed in marketing, public relations, advertising, and social media, serving a diverse range of clients such as Epson, Cisco, Oracle, SAP, Discovery, and SDL.
I enjoy riding my bike outside of work, especially on gravel and MTB trails. In my free time, I occasionally play the electric guitar and am fascinated with vintage guitars and tube amplifiers.

Robert Gelo, 2023-11-27 (Update: 2023-11-27)

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