WASHINGTON: Chinese government hackers compromised the computers of a USNavy contractor and stole a large amount of highly sensitive data onundersea warfare, including plans for a supersonic anti-ship missile foruse on US submarines, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citingunnamed US officials.

The breaches took place in January and February, the officials told thePost, speaking on condition of anonymity about an ongoing investigation ledby the Navy and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

“Per federal regulations, there are measures in place that requirecompanies to notify the government when a ‘cyber incident’ has occurredthat has actual or potential adverse effects on their networks that containcontrolled unclassified information. It would be inappropriate to discussfurther details at this time,” the US Navy said in response to a query fromReuters.

The Chinese Embassy knows nothing about the reported hacking, an embassyspokesperson told Reuters in an email, adding that the Chinese government“staunchly upholds cyber security, firmly opposes and combats all forms ofcyber attacks in accordance with law.”

The hackers targeted a contractor who works for the Naval Undersea WarfareCenter, a military entity based in Newport, Rhode Island, the unnamedofficials said without identifying the contractor, according to the Post.

The hacked material comprised 614 gigabytes relating to a project known asSea Dragon, as well as signals and sensor data, submarine radio roominformation relating to cryptographic systems and the Navy submarinedevelopment unit’s electronic warfare library, the Post reported.

The newspaper said it had agreed to withhold some details about thecompromised missile project after the Navy said their release could harmnational security.

The data stolen was of a highly sensitive nature despite being housed onthe contractor’s unclassified network, the Post said, citing the officials.- Agencies