 "FBI warns of 'unprecedented increase' in Chinese cyberattacks on US infrastructure")
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has flagged concern over Chinese efforts to covertly plant malicious software into computer networks to disrupt critical US infrastructure, adding that the threat is now at “a scale greater than we’d seen before.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the agency is “laser-focused” on deterring the threat posed by China that is capable of undermining U.S. national security.
“We’re laser-focused on this as a real threat and we’re working with a lot of partners to try to identify it, anticipate it and disrupt it,” Wray said at the Munich Security Conference.
“I’m sober and clear-minded about what we’re up against . . . We’re always going to have to be kind of on the balls of our feet,” he added.
US removes Chinese malware
In January, the U.S. Office of Public Affairs issued a report saying that the country “disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office (SOHO) routers hijacked by People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers.”
The hacking network called the “Volt Typhoon”, used privately owned routers infected with a malware known as “KV Botnet” to enable China to hack systems in the US.
The “Volt Typhoon” allegedly targeted key American infrastructure including the electricity grid and water supply.
“In wiping out the KV Botnet from hundreds of routers nationwide, the Department of Justice is using all its tools to disrupt national security threats – in real-time,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco.
Impact Shorts
View All“Today, the FBI and our partners continue to stand firmly against the People’s Republic of China cyber actors that threaten our nation’s cyber security,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate.
He added, “We remain committed to thwarting malicious activities of this type and will continue to disrupt and dismantle cyber threats, safeguarding the fabric of our cyber infrastructure.”
A wake-up call for US
Wray’s comments are the latest in reminding the Biden-backed administration of Chinese espionage operations in the country that range from traditional spying and intellectual property theft to hacking into computer software.
Intelligence officers have said that China’s spy activities have scaled up in terms of scale and sophistication over the past decade. Authorities have especially become concerned over Beijing’s interest in infiltrating the U.S. infrastructure networks responsible for the functioning of safe drinking water, aviation traffic, etc.
Last year, the FBI director met with his counterparts from the Five Eyes countries – US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – in the group’s first public meeting to discuss ways to deter Chinese espionage activities.
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