Feb 13 2025 3 mins
This is your Dragon's Code: America Under Cyber Siege podcast.
Hey there, I'm Ting, and welcome to Dragon's Code: America Under Cyber Siege. Let's dive right into the latest on Chinese cyber operations targeting US infrastructure.
Over the past few days, we've seen some of the most sophisticated attacks yet. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been using hybrid tactics to undermine its strategic competitors, and the US is no exception. Just in early December, a state-sponsored cyberattack hit the US Treasury Department, specifically targeting the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Office of the Treasury Secretary. These entities had administered economic sanctions against Chinese companies in 2024 for engaging in cyberattacks and supplying weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine[1].
But that's not all. The CCP-backed hacker group Volt Typhoon gained control of hundreds of internet routers in the US to use as launch pads for attacks on critical infrastructure systems, including water treatment plants, the electrical grid, and transportation systems. And let's not forget Salt Typhoon, another Chinese state-backed hacker group that targeted data from numerous US officials, including phones used by Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, as well as phones from staff members of Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign[1].
According to Anne Neuberger, the US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies, these attacks are part of a Chinese espionage program focused on key government officials and corporate intellectual property theft. But what's even more concerning is that these hacks are not just about stealing data; they're also about disrupting US military supply lines and hindering an effective US response in case of a potential conflict with the PRC, especially over Taiwan[1].
Rob Joyce, former cybersecurity director at the National Security Agency (NSA), puts it bluntly: these hacks serve "so that they can disrupt our ability to support military activities or to distract us, to get us to focus on a domestic incident at a time when something is flaring up in a different part of the world."
The US has taken action, though. On January 17, 2025, the US announced it had dismantled an operation by a Chinese state-backed hacker group known as Volt Typhoon, and sanctioned the Chinese company Integrity Tech for supporting the hacking group Flax Typhoon[2][4].
So, what can we learn from all this? First, the CCP's cyber operations are getting more sophisticated by the day. Second, the US needs to step up its cybersecurity game, and fast. As FBI Director Christopher Wray and Microsoft have warned, these attacks are targeting critical infrastructure, like ports and electric grids, which could have devastating consequences[4].
In conclusion, it's clear that the CCP's cyber siege on America is only intensifying. As cybersecurity experts and government officials, we need to stay vigilant and work together to protect our critical infrastructure and defend against these threats. That's all for today's episode of Dragon's Code. Stay safe, and stay tuned.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
Hey there, I'm Ting, and welcome to Dragon's Code: America Under Cyber Siege. Let's dive right into the latest on Chinese cyber operations targeting US infrastructure.
Over the past few days, we've seen some of the most sophisticated attacks yet. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been using hybrid tactics to undermine its strategic competitors, and the US is no exception. Just in early December, a state-sponsored cyberattack hit the US Treasury Department, specifically targeting the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Office of the Treasury Secretary. These entities had administered economic sanctions against Chinese companies in 2024 for engaging in cyberattacks and supplying weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine[1].
But that's not all. The CCP-backed hacker group Volt Typhoon gained control of hundreds of internet routers in the US to use as launch pads for attacks on critical infrastructure systems, including water treatment plants, the electrical grid, and transportation systems. And let's not forget Salt Typhoon, another Chinese state-backed hacker group that targeted data from numerous US officials, including phones used by Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, as well as phones from staff members of Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign[1].
According to Anne Neuberger, the US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies, these attacks are part of a Chinese espionage program focused on key government officials and corporate intellectual property theft. But what's even more concerning is that these hacks are not just about stealing data; they're also about disrupting US military supply lines and hindering an effective US response in case of a potential conflict with the PRC, especially over Taiwan[1].
Rob Joyce, former cybersecurity director at the National Security Agency (NSA), puts it bluntly: these hacks serve "so that they can disrupt our ability to support military activities or to distract us, to get us to focus on a domestic incident at a time when something is flaring up in a different part of the world."
The US has taken action, though. On January 17, 2025, the US announced it had dismantled an operation by a Chinese state-backed hacker group known as Volt Typhoon, and sanctioned the Chinese company Integrity Tech for supporting the hacking group Flax Typhoon[2][4].
So, what can we learn from all this? First, the CCP's cyber operations are getting more sophisticated by the day. Second, the US needs to step up its cybersecurity game, and fast. As FBI Director Christopher Wray and Microsoft have warned, these attacks are targeting critical infrastructure, like ports and electric grids, which could have devastating consequences[4].
In conclusion, it's clear that the CCP's cyber siege on America is only intensifying. As cybersecurity experts and government officials, we need to stay vigilant and work together to protect our critical infrastructure and defend against these threats. That's all for today's episode of Dragon's Code. Stay safe, and stay tuned.
For more http://www.quietplease.ai
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta