Hackers linked to the Chinese government are waiting for the right moment to “deal a devastating blow” to U.S. critical infrastructure, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Thursday.
The Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon has gained access to many American companies in critical sectors, including energy, water and more, Wray said during a speech at Vanderbilt University.
China has the “ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing,” Wray said, first reported by Reuters.
The hackers have a plan to “land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic,” he said.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier this week that Volt Typhoon was not part of China’s government but part of a criminal ransomware group.
Security researchers with Microsoft and Google previously connected Volt Typhoon to China, Reuters noted.
Wray said the hackers have compromised personal computers and servers around the world to conceal their activities.
Microsoft said the group’s goal is to spy on organizations and gain access to their networks “without being detected for as long as possible.”
Chinese government-affiliated hackers are holding out for the ideal opportunity to “deal a devastating blow” to U.S. s. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated on Thursday that vital infrastructure.
During an address at Vanderbilt University, Wray claimed that the Chinese hacking collective Volt Typhoon had access to numerous American businesses in vital industries, such as energy, water, and more.
As initially reported by Reuters, Wray stated that China possesses the “ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing”.
He revealed that the hackers intended to “land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic.”.
Wray stated that while the purpose of the preparations may not be clear, they were consistent with China’s larger objective of preventing the US from defending Taiwan.
Volt Typhoon was a member of a criminal ransomware group, not the Chinese government, according to a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this week. Reuters reported that security researchers from Google and Microsoft had previously linked Volt Typhoon to China.
According to Wray, the hackers have infiltrated servers and personal computers all over the world in order to hide their activities.
The U.S. critical infrastructure organizations’ network systems and credentials were being accessed by Volt Typhoon, according to a report released by Microsoft almost a year ago. S. Since its mid-2021 onset, Volt Typhoon has impacted various industries, including government, information technology, manufacturing, utilities, construction, maritime, communications, and education.
According to Microsoft, the group wants to access companies’ networks and spy on them “without being detected for as long as possible.”. “.
