FBI Director Warns of Chinese Hackers Infiltrating U.S. Critical Infrastructure

FBI Director Christopher Wray has issued a stark warning that Chinese state-sponsored hackers have conducted widespread cyberattacks on critical American infrastructure in recent years. According to Wray, these hackers have infiltrated key sectors such as telecommunications, energy, and water with the intent of giving China the ability to cause a "devastating blow" against the United States.

Wray specifically called out a Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon, which has successfully gained access to numerous American companies, including 23 pipeline operators. The FBI has worked to remove the group's malicious code from hundreds of compromised devices, but Wray cautioned that federal agencies are still working to uncover and eradicate the full extent of the group's efforts.

The FBI director emphasized that the threat from China-sponsored hackers is no longer a distant concern, but a present danger that the U.S. is actively facing. He noted that China's hacking program is larger than that of every other major nation combined, with China's hackers outnumbering FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to one.

Wray stated that the Chinese government considers every sector of American society as "fair game" in its bid for global dominance. He warned that China is developing the capacity to "land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic and break America's will to resist," particularly as geopolitical tensions between the two countries escalate, partly due to China's aspirations to control Taiwan.

Why this matters: The infiltration of U.S. critical infrastructure by Chinese state-sponsored hackers poses a severe threat to national security and the functioning of essential services that millions of Americans rely on daily. The FBI's warning underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and increased vigilance to protect against potentially devastating attacks on the nation's most vital systems.

In response to these threats, Wray urged private companies to be more vigilant and fortify their networks to mitigate the persistent and growing danger from Chinese-backed hackers. U.S. law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies are also collaborating to detect and thwart these attacks. "We're working with our partners to hunt out the remnants of this group's work," Wray said, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to counter the Chinese cyberthreat.

Key Takeaways

• FBI warns of widespread cyberattacks by Chinese state-sponsored hackers on U.S. infrastructure.
• Chinese hacking group Volt Typhoon has infiltrated 23 U.S. pipeline operators and other sectors.
• China's hacking program is larger than all other major nations combined, outnumbering FBI cyber personnel 50:1.
• China considers every U.S. sector as "fair game" in its bid for global dominance, posing a severe threat.
• Urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect against potentially devastating attacks on vital systems.