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Mei Danowski

@meidanowski.bsky.social
287 followers 42 following 9 posts

Threat Intelligence Researcher. Co-founder of Natto Thoughts. www.nattothoughts.com

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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
More than one million smart cameras and baby monitors across 118 countries were reportedly exposed through vulnerabilities linked to Chinese IoT firm Meari Technology. But the story is larger than a cybersecurity failure. www.nattothoughts.com/p/is-this-ch...
nattothoughts.com
Is This Chinese Company Watching the World to Train its AI?
The story of Meari Technology reveals how insecure-by-design IoT infrastructure, global surveillance exposure, and China’s tech ecosystem are converging into a new model of AI-enabled data power.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
The Natto Team believes that understanding China’s cybersecurity strategy is essential for gaining clearer insight into cyber targeting originating from China. www.nattothoughts.com/p/cybersecur...
nattothoughts.com
Cybersecurity Strategy in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan
China’s high-level cyber strategy for the next five years continues the effort to build a cyber superpower, outlining more detailed requirements
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
The Tianfu Cup is back this year. See the analysis of the event by Eugenio @euben.bsky.social published today on Natto Thoughts. www.nattothoughts.com/p/the-tianfu...
nattothoughts.com
The Tianfu Cup Returns Under MPS Leadership as AI Takes Center Stage
After a two-year hiatus, the Tianfu Cup returns under MPS lead, combining AI-assisted vulnerability discovery and exploitation, a new competition track, and less transparency in vulnerability handling
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
We continue exploring provincial level’s involvement in cyber operations. See details in analysis by @euben.bsky.social www.nattothoughts.com/p/provincial...
nattothoughts.com
Provincial Tasking, Cross-Provincial Execution: A Case-Based Look at How China Scales Cyber Operations
How decentralized MSS and MPS tasking and market-enabled, cross-provincial execution by commercial firms shape the scale of China’s cyber operations
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Intense competition, rapid innovation, and strong state involvement define the overall trends in China’s cybersecurity industry for 2025. See our latest analysis nattothoughts.substack.com/p/chinas-202...
nattothoughts.substack.com
China’s 2025 Top 20 Cybersecurity Companies: Which “Dark Horses” Will Emerge to Prominence in 2026?
Annual ranking reveals hyper-competitive, innovation-focused top performers – some familiar and some not so well known, with extensive government ties
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
In this post, @euben.bsky.social and the Natto Team assess that provincial bureaus of the Chinese Ministry of State Security likely operate with their own tasking priorities, resources, and local ecosystems for cyber operations. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/the-many-a...
nattothoughts.substack.com
The Many Arms of the MSS: Why Provincial Bureaus Matter in China’s Cyber Operations
Provincial bureaus of the Chinese Ministry of State Security likely operate with their own tasking priorities, resources, and local ecosystems for cyber operations
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Researcher @sick.codes found a vulnerability in TCL TVs and reached out to TCL. What happened next? New analysis from Natto Thoughts - how a single disclosure reshaped China’s approach to cybersecurity and control. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/what-a-nar...
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
The Natto Team explores how APT27, HAFNIUM, and Silk Typhoon highlight the complexities of tracking threat actors and their real-world identities and why understanding the humans behind the keyboard matters. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/beyond-the...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Beyond the Aliases: Decoding Chinese Threat Group Attribution and the Human Factor
Examining the overlap between APT27, HAFNIUM, and Silk Typhoon through recent U.S. government disclosures, and why understanding the humans behind the keyboard is important for cyber defenders
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Our latest analysis digs into newly identified Salt Typhoon-linked companies, revealing the murky ecosystem of front firms and legitimate businesses that prop up Chinese state cyber operations. A beacon of clarity? Or just more questions in the storm? nattothoughts.substack.com/p/salt-typho...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Salt Typhoon: New Joint Advisory Offers a Beacon Through the Storm but Stirs Up New Questions
Analysis of newly identified Salt Typhoon-linked companies casts light on the complex ecosystem of front companies and real businesses supporting Chinese state cyber operations
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
@euben.bsky.social Eugenio’s research explains the elite cyber talent paradox in China - “all people are soldiers” vs “extremely lean.” #Cybersecurity #TalentPipeline #CyberOperations nattothoughts.substack.com/p/few-and-fa...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Few and Far Between: During China’s Red Hacker Era, Patriotic Hacktivism Was Widespread—Talent Was Not
Inside the small, elite circles that powered China’s massive hacker communities in the late 1990s and 2000s.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Eugenio Benincasa @euben.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Microsoft is probing whether a MAPP leak let Chinese hackers exploit a SharePoint vuln pre-patch. In this new piece for Natto, @dakotaindc.bsky.social, @meidanowski.bsky.social & I dig into: 🏛️ China's vuln reporting rules 📉 Which firms joined/left MAPP since 2018 ⚠️ The risks today’s members pose
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Natto Thoughts examines HAFNIUM-linked hacker Xu Zewei and reveals ties between China’s state security agencies, cybersecurity firm and strategic industries. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/hafnium-li...
nattothoughts.substack.com
HAFNIUM-Linked Hacker Xu Zewei: Riding the Tides of China’s Cyber Ecosystem
How one man’s career reveals the interconnected web of China’s state security apparatus, cybersecurity firms, and strategic industries
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
What does China’s top vulnerability mining platform’s white hat elite growth system like? What are the capabilities needed to be an expert white hat hacker? nattothoughts.substack.com/p/butian-vul...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Butian Vulnerability Platform: Forging China's Next Generation of White Hat Hackers
From 'Trouser Belt Project' to 'Patching the Sky': Qi An Xin’s Butian platform serves as cradle for nurturing new talent and smelter for refining seasoned hackers’ skills
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Eugenio Benincasa @euben.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
To defend, one must first know how to attack” (未知攻,焉知防). This mindset, popularized by a Taiwanese hacker Lin in the 1990s, spread from China's red hackers to CTF teams. Today, it powers China's cyber industry. New piece for @nattothoughts.bsky.social nattothoughts.substack.com/p/defense-th...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Defense-Through-Offense Mindset: From a Taiwanese Hacker to the Engine of China’s Cybersecurity Industry
The belief that offense enables defense in cyberspace, first rooted in China’s 1990s hacker culture, has since permeated the country’s cyber ecosystem
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
The Natto Team explores the development of China's vulnerability research and discovery skills, starting from the vocational college level. Thanks to @euben.bsky.social @dakotaindc.bsky.social Kristin Del Rosso for their previous research on the topic nattothoughts.substack.com/p/when-a-voc...
nattothoughts.substack.com
From Humble Beginnings: How a Vocational College Became a Vulnerability Powerhouse
Qingyuan Polytechnic's focus on vulnerability studies highlights China's continued efforts in gathering vulnerability resources
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
The Natto Team continues finding stories of Chinese hackers fascinating as they reveal the motivations behind cyber operations and the evolution of China's information security industry. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/stories-of...
nattothoughts.substack.com
From the World of “Hacker X Files” to the Whitewashed Business Sphere
Jiang Jintao’s journey from hacker to infosec entrepreneur illustrates the blend of ambition, skill, and changes in China's cybersecurity industry
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
This Natto Thoughts analysis was originally published last October. With new notes and updates added, we thought it is still relevant today to understand Russian ransomware actors and Russian political culture. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/ransom-war...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Ransom-War and Russian Political Culture: Trust, Corruption, and Putin's Zero-Sum Sovereignty
Recent Western government revelations about EvilCorp flesh out how Russian ransomware actors and the Russian government use each other to navigate a world they perceive as dangerous.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Eugenio Benincasa @euben.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
In this piece with @nattothoughts.bsky.social's @meidanowski.bsky.social, we dug into China’s two naming-and-shaming campaigns over the past 30 days—targeting alleged Taiwanese and U.S. hackers amid escalating geopolitical tensions. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/wars-witho...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Wars without Gun Smoke: China Plays the Cyber Name-and-Shame Game on Taiwan and the U.S.
China’s security services have called out hackers of an alleged “Internet Army of Taiwan Independence” and of the U.S. National Security Agency, signaling an increasingly confrontational approach
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
A case study of the i-SOON indictment and leaks reveals that source information may vary but it is important to compare and evaluate information for unique insights. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/indictment...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Indictments and Leaks: Different but Complementary Sources
A case study of the i-SOON indictment and leaks reveals that source information may vary but it is important to compare and evaluate information for unique insights.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
A recent research from Natto Thoughts about US-sanctioned, allegedly APT27-associated actor. #apt27 nattothoughts.substack.com/p/zhou-shuai...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Zhou Shuai: A Hacker’s Road to APT27
US-sanctioned, allegedly APT27-associated actor Zhou Shuai represents a group of Chinese elite hackers who have become an important resource for Chinese state cyber operations.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
As the Natto Team was going to publish this piece, US Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging eight i-SOON employees and highlighting the importance of companies like i-SOON in China's cyberthreat landscape. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/where-is-i...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Where is i-SOON Now?
i-SOON’s business struggles after the leak reflect the cruel reality of China’s hacker-for-hire industry
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
We appreciate that more and more threat intelligence researchers value the importance of cultural component in APT research. @techy.detectionengineering.net
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Mei Danowski @meidanowski.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
One year after the I-SOON leaks, we still found more things that were not clear to us before. @euben.bsky.social ‘s Pangu team analysis gives more insights into China’s cyber operations. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/the-pangu-...
nattothoughts.substack.com
The Pangu Team—iOS Jailbreak and Vulnerability Research Giant: A Member of i-SOON’s Exploit-Sharing Network
A year after the i-SOON leaks, a deep dive into the Pangu Team reveals new insight into the relationships between elite vulnerability researchers and government-contracted hackers
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
We are glad to see that some curious minds like us want to find out more about Chinese APTs associated companies in reality. They actually paid a visit to them. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Chasing Chengdu404, Sichuan Silence....and NoSugar Technology !?
On the ground research on US sanctioned cyber security companies in China.
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Even before DeepSeek's debut sparked pride among Chinese netizens, US sanctions on Sichuan Silence developer Guan Tianfeng triggered online vows to "march forward" in cyberpower competition. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/sichuan-si...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Sichuan Silence Information Technology and Guan Tianfeng: Your Criminal Our Hero
Even before DeepSeek's debut sparked pride among Chinese netizens, US sanctions on Sichuan Silence developer Guan Tianfeng triggered online vows to "march forward" in cyberpower competition
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
The other shoe has finally dropped, but we still need more intrusion details to defend against the threats. #salttyphoon #apt nattothoughts.substack.com/p/salt-typho...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Salt Typhoon: the Other Shoe Has Dropped, but Consternation Continues
Sichuan Juxinhe, directly involved in the Salt Typhoon cyber operations, resembles a front company of the Chinese Ministry of State Security
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Mei Danowski @meidanowski.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Kick off 2025 with a spicy hotpot - why has Chengdu become a hub for hacking? nattothoughts.substack.com/p/chengdu-te...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Chengdu: Teahouses, Hotpots, Universities and … Hackers
Chengdu’s leisure lifestyle, education and talent resources have contributed to the city becoming a hacking hub
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Thank you for your support. The Natto Team appreciates it.
1000 subscribers. You did it. Natto Thoughts has  its first thousand subscribers. Nattothoughts.substack.com
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Mei Danowski @meidanowski.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Today the US has sanctioned Chinese company Sichuan Silence for role in 2020 compromise of tens of thousands of firewalls, including US critical infrastructure victims. Natto Thoughts published a profile of Sichuan Silence last week. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/sichuan-si...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Sichuan Silence Information Technology: Great Sounds are Often Inaudible
Formerly very public, Sichuan Silence has gone quiet since 2020; but as part of a circle of Chengdu-based jack-of-all-trades infosec companies, it serves the state in cyber-enabled operations
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
uoɯolɐS uɐƃɹoW uɥoſ @fuzzybunny.org · 06/12/2024
This was a fun one to record, based on @nattothoughts.bsky.social's recent article on Chinese cyber range exercises - at nattothoughts.substack.com/p/business-p.... Thanks @euben.bsky.social and @meidanowski.bsky.social Hopefully we'll get a chance to do more soon! #cybersecurity #china
nattothoughts.substack.com
Business Priorities of Chinese Cyber Range Providers Go Hand in Hand with State Cyber Capability Development
China’s cyber range market booms, fueled by the state’s demand for developing capable cyber talent and improving the effectiveness of “attack and defense live-fire capability”
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Reposted by Mei Danowski
Natto Thoughts @nattothoughts.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
The Natto Team follows up on the findings of Sophos' Pacific Rim reports and provides a deep dive into Sichuan Silence Information Technology company - a Chengdu-based jack-of-all-trades infosec company. nattothoughts.substack.com/p/sichuan-si...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Sichuan Silence Information Technology: Great Sounds are Often Inaudible
Formerly very public, Sichuan Silence has gone quiet since 2020; but as part of a circle of Chengdu-based jack-of-all-trades infosec companies, it serves the state in cyber-enabled operations
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Mei Danowski @meidanowski.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
As many CTI analysts in the cybersecurity industry look for Salt Typhoon intrusion details, such as IoC, after the Wall Street Journal broke the news, they discovered no industry reports on the described intrusions could be found. Why is that? nattothoughts.substack.com/p/salt-typho...
nattothoughts.substack.com
Salt Typhoon: Churning Up a Storm of Consternation
Public knowledge of the Salt Typhoon intrusions has been driven by the media, while the government and private-sector cybersecurity companies appear to have agreed on keeping mum
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