U.S. probes malware email targeting trade talks with China, WSJ reports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. authorities are investigating a bogus email from a Republican lawmaker that contained malware apparently aimed at giving China insights into the Trump administration’s trade talks with Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

The malware in the email purportedly sent by Representative John Moolenaar in July to U.S. trade groups, law firms and government agencies was traced by cyber analysts to a hacker group – APT41 – believed to be working for Chinese intelligence, the newspaper said.

Moolenaar, a harsh critic of Beijing, is the chairman of a congressional committee focused on strategic competition between China and the U.S., including threats to U.S. national security.

The email was the latest alleged Beijing-linked hacking operation aimed at giv