Suspected Chinese-Speaking Hackers Target Central Asian Governments With OctLurk and SilkLurk

A Chinese-speaking threat actor is suspected in cyber attacks targeting government organizations in Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Syria, since January 2025. The attacks, using OctLurk and SilkLurk malware, target sectors like healthcare, research, and government offices.