FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a strong warning on Tuesday about the increasing threat posed by Chinese government hackers to critical infrastructure in the United States. Speaking before Capitol Hill, Wray emphasized the urgent need for attention and resources to address this national security concern. He revealed that Chinese hackers are strategically positioning themselves to potentially cause mass chaos and harm to American citizens.
Wray characterized the actions of the People's Republic of China as a diabolical plot to stealthily infiltrate control systems of critical infrastructure across the country. This scheme, code-named Vault Typhoon by the government, involves targeted infiltration of routers, either through built-in backdoors in Chinese-made systems or through outdated and vulnerable infrastructure. By gaining administrative rights, these hackers can override and disrupt vital systems related to transportation, energy, food supply, and more.
Jennifer Easterly, Director of America's cyber defense agency, emphasized the severity of the threat. She drew attention to the regional chaos caused by the Colonial Pipeline hack in 2021 and envisioned an even more catastrophic scenario if multiple critical infrastructure systems were simultaneously compromised. In such a situation, disruptions could range from polluted water leading to public health risks, to derailing trains, malfunctioning air traffic control systems, and disrupted port control systems. Easterly underscored that the Chinese government believes such a widespread crisis would crush the United States' determination to defend Taiwan.
The U.S. security establishment has long been aware of the activities of Chinese military and intelligence personnel assigned to Unit 61486 of the People's Liberation Army, located in Beijing. This unit, numbering in the hundreds, engages in persistent and pervasive hacking activities known as Advanced Persistent Threat 2 (APT2). Their primary objective is to infiltrate critical infrastructure systems in order to unleash chaos and achieve their strategic goals.
Various U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the cyber defense agency, and the National Security Agency (NSA), are actively investigating and countering this threat. However, the expiration of Section 702 of the Patriot Act, a tool used to collect intelligence on foreign entities, poses a significant challenge. There is resistance in Congress to renewing this important provision, prompting Wray and Easterly to underscore the vital importance of its renewal in addressing the ongoing cybersecurity threat from China.
In conclusion, FBI Director Christopher Wray's recent warning highlights the growing threat posed by Chinese government hackers to critical infrastructure in the United States. The infiltration of control systems and the potential for mass chaos and harm to American citizens present a serious national security concern. The urgency to dedicate resources and renew critical tools in Congress is crucial to address this ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
