Watch out for Chinese cyber group threats to US infrastructure

TLDR:

Recent U.S. advisory warns of threats to critical infrastructure posed by Chinese cyber group. The advisory highlights the following key points:

• Chinese state-sponsored cyber group, Volt Typhoon, is compromising critical infrastructure in the United States.
• American agencies, including CISA, NSA, and FBI, have confirmed the infiltration of IT environments in various critical infrastructure organizations.

In a cybersecurity advisory issued in February, three American agencies warned that the Chinese government is sponsoring “destructive cyberattacks” against critical infrastructure in the U.S. and other nations. The state-sponsored cyber group, Volt Typhoon, is reportedly preparing for potential disruptive effects in the event of geopolitical tensions or military conflicts. The advisory emphasized the group’s strong operational security and long-term persistence within compromised IT environments.

The U.S. agencies are concerned about the group’s ability to use network access to carry out cyberattacks during conflicts. While the risk to Canada’s critical infrastructure is lower, the nation would still be affected due to cross-border integration. Australia and New Zealand could also be vulnerable to cyber threats posed by Volt Typhoon. The advisory urged critical infrastructure organizations to apply mitigations and report any malicious activities to relevant agencies.

Key Takeaways:

• Chinese state-sponsored cyber group targeting critical infrastructure in the U.S. and other nations.
• Concerns about potential disruptive cyberattacks during geopolitical tensions or conflicts.
• Advisory highlights long-term persistence and strong operational security of Volt Typhoon.