Cybersecurity Official: Chinese Hackers Infiltrate US Infrastructure, Preparing For Potential Conflict
Chinese hackers are infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to prepare for potential conflict, U.S. Cyber Command officials warned on Friday. According to Morgan Adamski, executive director of Cyber Command, Chinese-linked cyber operations are aimed at gaining a strategic advantage in the event of heightened tensions or direct confrontation with the U.S.
Adamski shared these concerns during a talk at the Cyberwarcon security conference in Arlington, Virginia, where he outlined how Chinese hackers have been targeting key infrastructure systems, including those responsible for energy, water, and communication. These efforts are intended to position China for potential disruptions of vital services in the event of a major conflict.
🇺🇸🇨🇳BREAKING: CHINESE HACKERS ARE READY FOR CYBER WAR
U.S. cyber officials warn: Beijing’s hackers are deep in critical systems—power grids, water supplies, even telecoms—ready to flip the switch if conflict sparks.
Dubbed “Salt Typhoon,” they’ve stolen call data, breached… pic.twitter.com/47QwWcwntB
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 22, 2024
Chinese hackers preparing for conflict, says US cyber official https://t.co/qJRMCvBAG9 pic.twitter.com/uRAY3iATyF
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) November 22, 2024
The announcement comes as the U.S. deals with the fallout from an extensive cyber espionage campaign dubbed “Salt Typhoon,” believed to be linked to China. This operation has been described as the worst telecom hack in U.S. history, involving the theft of sensitive telecommunications data and the breach of communications between high-level officials in the 2024 presidential campaigns. The FBI has confirmed that the hack also included law enforcement-related information.
Chinese hackers were able to deeply penetrate U.S. telecommunications infrastructure over the past several months.
The worst part? The networks are still compromised and it may take incredibly drastic measures to boot them from U.S. systems.https://t.co/VEnviG2NIt
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) November 23, 2024
While the Chinese government consistently denies involvement in these cyberattacks, U.S. cybersecurity agencies are actively working to provide assistance to targeted companies and organizations. The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been involved in advising affected entities and helping them mitigate the consequences of the breach.
NSA director Gen Haugh tells me he’d like to publish a hunt guide for Salt Typhoon so companies and allies can find, oust and protect against Chinese telco hackers. That needs collective action at speed, he said at NSIF2024.https://t.co/GnImrfoWg0
— Katrina Manson (@KatrinaManson) November 20, 2024
Senator Warns Chinese Hackers "Salt Typhoon" Have Access To All U.S. Mobile Phones https://t.co/lu0MrFDXGc
— The Beach From Florida (@BeachFrmFL) November 23, 2024
In response to these growing threats, Adamski revealed that the U.S. government is also undertaking coordinated global efforts to disrupt Chinese cyber operations. These include exposing Chinese tactics, issuing sanctions, and taking legal actions aimed at reducing China’s ability to conduct further cyber espionage. The increasing frequency of these attacks has raised alarms about the vulnerabilities of U.S. infrastructure in the face of state-sponsored cyber warfare.
As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, the need for enhanced cybersecurity and better protection of critical infrastructure becomes increasingly urgent. With China’s growing cyber capabilities, the U.S. will need to bolster its defenses against the evolving threat of cyber warfare.