A senior U.S. cybersecurity official has revealed that Chinese hackers are strategically positioning themselves within the United States’ critical infrastructure networks, potentially preparing for a future conflict with the U.S. Morgan Adamski, executive director of U.S. Cyber Command, stated that ongoing cyber operations linked to China are designed to give Beijing an advantage if tensions between the two nations escalate.
Speaking at the Cyberwarcon security conference in Arlington, Virginia, Adamski explained that Chinese cyber activities have targeted key systems, including those related to energy, water, and communications.
🇺🇸🇨🇳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
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to prepare for possible disruptions in the event of a military conflict. By infiltrating critical infrastructure, Chinese-linked hackers are positioning themselves to manipulate essential services, such as HVAC systems in server rooms or even power and water controls, if needed.
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
The announcement comes as the U.S. government grapples with increasing concerns over cyberattacks from China. A recent breach, known as “Salt Typhoon,” has been described as the worst telecom hack in U.S. history. The cyber espionage operation resulted in stolen telecommunications data, including sensitive call records and compromised communications from top officials in both major U.S. presidential campaigns.
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
Despite Beijing’s denials of involvement in these activities, the U.S. has stepped up its efforts to counter Chinese cyber operations. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been providing support to affected organizations, offering technical assistance to mitigate the impact of these attacks.
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
Adamski also mentioned that the U.S. government has taken both defensive and offensive actions to disrupt Chinese cyber activities worldwide, including sanctions and public disclosures of malicious operations.
The growing cyber threat from China highlights the increasing role of cybersecurity in national defense. As countries continue to develop their cyber warfare capabilities, the U.S. must remain vigilant and strengthen its defenses against potential attacks on its critical infrastructure.
