Chinese Hackers Target Asian Organizations With Sophisticated PeckBirdy Malware

Chinese hackers use the adaptable PeckBirdy tool to infiltrate Asian gambling sites and government agencies, staying undetected.

By Content Team

Jan 30, 2026

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Chinese state-backed hacking groups are unleashing advanced cyber weapons across Asia, with the region accounting for over half of all global APT activity. Trend Micro has tracked two threat actors since 2023 using "PeckBirdy," a sophisticated command-and-control tool that adapts to different environments.

One group infected Chinese gambling sites, tricking visitors with fake Chrome updates that installed backdoors called "Holodonut" and "MKDoor." A separate espionage-focused group targeted Asian government agencies and private organizations using the same versatile malware.

PeckBirdy's power lies in its adaptability—written in JScript, it can operate in browsers, Windows utilities, or server environments. This allows hackers to use identical tools whether targeting casual gamblers or government employees, maximizing efficiency while staying undetected.

Source: Dark Reading

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