The FBI says Chinese hackers are preparing to launch an attack on U.S. infrastructure.
Inputs that matter: "The PRC [People's Republic of China] has made it clear that it considers every sector that makes our society run as fair game in its bid to dominate on the world stage and that it plans to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic and break America's will to resist."
- FBI Director Wray said that the Chinese have successfully gained access to companies throughout the U.S. in energy, telecommunications, and water and have targeted 23 pipeline operators.
The opportunity: Hackers linked to the Chinese government are waiting for the right moment to "deal a devastating blow" to U.S. critical infrastructure, Wray said Thursday.
- Voice of America reports, "Multiple U.S. agencies, led by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, warned in February that hackers associated with a Chinese-linked group known as Volt Typhoon had been hiding in key computer systems and networks for at least five years."
Zoom in: A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier this week that "Volt Typhoon" was not part of China's government but part of a criminal ransomware group.
- Security researchers with Microsoft and Google have connected "Volt Typhoon" to China.
Between the lines: While all countries use computer hacking to gather intelligence, the concern is state-sponsored groups working toward digital sabotage.
- Microsoft warned last year that "Volt Typhoon" was "pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises."
- China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, warns the Philippines, "Attempts to bring in external forces to safeguard its so-called security will only lead to greater insecurity for itself."
- DefenseNews reports that Japan and the U.S. "will improve their command-and-control systems, form an industrial council to build weapons, network their missile defense systems with Australia's, and start a joint exercise with the United Kingdom."
Follow the money: By disrupting communications between the U.S. and their Asian allies at will, China has an insurance policy against NATO involvement in the region.
- Wray believes the ultimate goal of China is to deter the U.S. and its allies from defending Taiwan.
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Read More
- https://twitter.com/BRICSinfo/status/1781058540762755511
- https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1781090808353227016
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/china-hackers-fbi-wray-infrastructure-b2531182.html
- https://thehill.com/policy/international/4603954-chinese-hackers-preparing-to-attack-critical-us-infrastructure-fbi/
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-18/china-outweighs-g-7-as-leading-driver-of-global-economic-growth
- https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/20/five_eyes_volt_typhoon/
- https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/MICROSOFT-CORPORATION-4835/news/What-is-Volt-Typhoon-the-Chinese-hacking-group-the-FBI-warns-could-deal-a-devastating-blow--46479831/
- https://banananomics.co/japans_urgent_defense_upgrade
- https://banananomics.co/philippines_and_us_taunt_china