A hacking group linked to the Chinese government stole passwords and documents Cyber ​​security researchers from a Taiwanese government-affiliated research center that specializes in computing Cisco Systems Inc. said on Thursday.

The attackers used a type of malicious software tool used almost entirely by groups based in China when they gained access to an undisclosed research center in early July 2023, Cisco’s Telos Threat Intelligence. The group said in a report shared exclusively with Bloomberg News. Based on this and other techniques, Cisco believes with “moderate confidence” that hackers Part of the state-sponsored espionage group APT41, which US officials have added. To China’s Ministry of State Security.