Hackers tied to the Chinese government are waiting for the perfect time to cause a severe impact on U.S. critical infrastructure, as stated by FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday.
The Chinese hacking group called Volt Typhoon has entered various American companies in critical areas like energy and water, as mentioned by Wray at Vanderbilt University.
Wray stated that China has the capability to cause significant damage to our vital infrastructure when they choose to do so. first reported by Reuters.
The hackers intend to attack civilian infrastructure to create panic, according to Wray.
It's challenging to determine the purpose of the preparation, but it aligns with China's broader objective to prevent the United States from defending Taiwan, according to Wray.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier this week that Volt Typhoon is not a part of China’s government but a criminal ransomware group. Security researchers from Microsoft and Google previously linked Volt Typhoon to China, as noted by Reuters.
Wray mentioned that the hackers have compromised personal computers and servers globally to hide their activities.
Nearly a year ago, Microsoft released a report showing that Volt Typhoon had been accessing the credentials and network systems of critical infrastructure organizations in the U.S. Volt Typhoon has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted various sectors such as communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education.
Microsoft stated that the group’s objective is to spy on organizations and gain access to their networks without being detected for as long as possible.
National Security Agency Director Gen. Timothy D. Haugh mentioned at the event that China was securing access to the critical networks of the United States before a direct confrontation between the two countries would occur, The New York Times reported.
