The United States on Monday formally blamed China for a massive hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software in March. The Biden administration accused Beijing of working with hackers in ransomware attacks and other cyber operations.

Though US did not issue any sanctions against the Chinese government, the broad range of cyberthreats from Beijing included ransomware attacks from government-affiliated hackers US officials allege that China’s Ministry of State Security has been using criminal contract hackers who have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and theft for their own profit, officials said.

Also Read: Notorious ransomware gang mysteriously disappears from the internet

The European Union and Britain also joined US in condemning China. The EU said malicious cyber activities with “significant effects” targeted government institutions, political organisations. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre said the groups targeted maritime industries and naval defense contractors in the US and Europe and the Finnish parliament.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the cyberattack was a reckless but “familiar pattern of behaviour.”

Also Read: US will defend its people against cyberattacks: Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin

NATO for the first-time condemned China publicly for hacking activities. It called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments, asking “to act responsibly in the international system, including in cyberspace.” The alliance said it was determined to “actively deter, defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats.” Australia also accused China of the hack.

The Microsoft Exchange hack took place months ago compromised and over thousands computers were affected by it around the world, According to BBC, the attack targeted at least 30,000 firms across the world. In March, Microsoft revealed details of the hack back and accused a China-linked group, Hafnium, of the hack. The attack left many businesses and organisations vulnerable, with a huge effort to try to mitigate the potential risks. The attack allowed hackers to remotely access email inboxes. Microsoft has accused China eight times in the past 12 months for the cyberattacks.

Chinese Foreign Ministry in the past has deflected blame for the Microsoft Exchange hack, saying that China “firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms.”