The United States has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Guan Tianfeng, a Chinese national accused of orchestrating global cyberattacks on computer firewalls. The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, also implicates co-conspirators associated with Sichuan Silence Information Technology Co. Ltd., the company Guan worked for.

Guan, 30, allegedly exploited a critical vulnerability in firewalls developed by UK-based cybersecurity firm Sophos Ltd. The attacks, carried out in April 2020, targeted over 81,000 devices worldwide. The attackers aimed to steal sensitive information, including usernames and passwords, and infect systems with ransomware.

In the United States alone, 23,000 firewalls were compromised, 36 of which safeguarded critical infrastructure systems. FBI agent Herbert Stapleton highlighted the significant risk, noting that Sophos’s swift response mitigated potentially catastrophic consequences.

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Sichuan Silence, accusing the company of selling stolen data and hacking services to Chinese businesses and government agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security.

“This zero-day vulnerability exploited by Guan and his co-conspirators caused widespread harm to businesses globally,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This action underscores the importance of cybersecurity vigilance.”

Efforts to contact Sichuan Silence were met with refusal to comment, while a spokesperson claimed Guan was “unreachable.”

The U.S. government continues to intensify its efforts against international cybercrime, urging individuals with information on Guan to come forward under the generous reward program.