Chinese national arrested in Los Angeles on US hacking charge

[SAN FRANCISCO] A Chinese national traveling in Los Angeles was arrested on charges he was part of a hacking conspiracy related to the theft of security clearance records on millions of American government employees, US authorities said on Thursday.

Yu Pingan was arrested Aug 21 at Los Angeles International Airport after a federal criminal complaint accused him of conspiring with others wielding malicious software known as Sakula, a Justice Department spokesman said. The software was previously identified as being used in breaches at the US Office of Personnel Management.

REUTERS