The group, Mustang Panda, used malware called PlugX to access thousands of computers worldwide, according to the Justice Department and FBI. Newsweek reached out to the FBI via email for comment. The group managed to hack computers in at least 170 countries,

Federal authorities announced Tuesday that they have erased Chinese malware from thousands of computers across the United States.

The FBI and international partners sent a self-destruct command to PlugX malware French cybersecurity firms and law enforcement agents, together with partners from the United States, have successfully removed Chinese-built malware from thousands of infected PCs.