The person at the center of this case
U.S. and international companies, universities, research institutes, and government entities
Cold Case · Open
5 years waiting · since 2021
APT 40 CYBER ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES
Justice for U.S. and international companies, universities, research institutes, and government entities — the trail went cold in 2021, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is the current location and status of the four indicted individuals: Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific trade secrets and intellectual property were successfully exfiltrated, and which sectors suffered the greatest losses?
👤
person
Lead #3How did the PRC Ministry of State Security use front companies to conduct and conceal these cyber operations?
On May 28, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted four Chinese citizens—Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin—for operating a sophisticated cyber espionage campaign on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security from 2012 to 2018. The conspiracy targeted trade secrets and intellectual property from U.S. and foreign companies, universities, research institutes, and government entities across aerospace, defense, biomedical, and other critical sectors. The case remains active as authorities work to locate and apprehend the four fugitives operating from China.
Case
#786
United States and multiple foreign countries
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What technical indicators or malware signatures can help identify ongoing APT 40 activities?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Damage Protected Computers and Commit Economic Espionage; Criminal Forfeiture Caution: On May 28, 2021, a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California returned an indictment against four People’s Republic of China (PRC) citizens for their alleged roles in a long running campaign of computer network operations targeting trade secrets, intellectual property, and other high value information from companies, universities, research institutes, and governmental entities in the United States and abroad, as well as multiple foreign governments. The indictment alleges that Zhu Yunmin, Wu Shurong, Ding Xiaoyang, and Cheng Qingmin targeted the following sectors: aerospace/aviation, biomedical, defense industrial base, healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, research institutes, transportation (rail and shipping), and virus research from 2012 to 2018, on behalf of the PRC Ministry of State Security.
Additionally, the indictment alleges the use of front companies by the PRC Ministry of State Security to conduct cyber espionage. The four individuals are identified as: ZHU Yunmin 朱允敏 (STC Codes: 2612/0336/2404) Alias: Zhu Rong WU Shurong 吴淑荣 (STC Codes: 0702/3219/2837) Aliases: goodperson, ha0r3n, Shi Lei DING Xiaoyang 丁晓阳 (STC Codes: 0002/2556/7122) Aliases: Ding Hao, Manager Chen CHENG Qingmin 程庆民 (STC Codes: 4453/1987/3046) Alias: Manager Cheng
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2012
Cyber espionage campaign begins
APT 40 begins targeting U.S. and foreign entities on behalf of PRC Ministry of State Security
🕵️
2018
Campaign period ends
Alleged cyber espionage operations continue through 2018
🔍
2021-05-28
Federal indictment returned
Grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California indicts four PRC citizens for conspiracy to damage protected computers and commit economic espionage
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:October 29, 2026