A Chinese hacker group maintained access to U.S. infrastructure systems for “at least five years” before being recently discovered, according to a new report from a U.S. security group.
The Joint Cybersecurity Advisory Council released its findings Wednesday, saying Chinese hackers gained access within U.S. systems that remained dormant. The hackers penetrated the “communications, energy, transportation systems, and waste and sewage systems sectors” of the continental and non-continental United States and its territories.
The advisory is comprised of U.S. law enforcement and allied security agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The report states that the purpose of the cyber operation was not to gather intelligence, but to gain access and control over critical infrastructure across the United States. If this were to occur, hackers could wreak havoc on U.S. systems, it added.
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A Chinese hacker group maintained access to U.S. infrastructure systems for “at least five years” before being recently discovered, according to a new report from a U.S. security group. (eye stock)
The hackers’ “selection of targets and behavior patterns are inconsistent with traditional cyber espionage and intelligence gathering operations,” the report said. “U.S. copyright management agencies are concerned that these attackers could use their network access to have devastating effects in the event of potential geopolitical tensions or military conflict. There is.”
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The report echoes concerns raised by FBI Director Christopher Wray during a Congressional hearing last week.
FBI Director Christopher Wray arrives to testify at Congressional Committee of the Whole hearing on ‘Communist China’ [Chinese Communist Party] “Cyber Threats to America’s Homeland and National Security” held in Washington, DC. (Julia Nickinson/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Ray and other government officials testified at a hearing entitled the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Communist Party of China Cyber threats to America’s homeland and national security. ”
“The public has far too little interest in the facts of the People’s Republic of China. [People’s Republic of China] Hackers are targeting our critical infrastructure, including water treatment plants, power grids, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation systems. And the risks it poses to all Americans demand our attention now,” Wray told lawmakers.
Ray testifies that Chinese hackers “outnumber FBI cyber employees by at least 50 to 1.”
“Chinese hackers are positioning themselves on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world damage to American citizens and communities should China decide the time is right for an attack,” Wray said. said.
Wray said China is “positioned” to wreak havoc on U.S. critical infrastructure.
Wray repeatedly called on lawmakers to pay more attention to Chinese cyber threats. He also tried to paint a picture of this for lawmakers in his testimony to Congress last year.
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“To give you an idea of what we are up against, even if FBI cyber agents and intelligence analysts each focused solely on the Chinese threat, they would not focus on anything other than China. Even if we didn’t, Chinese hackers would still outnumber the FBI’s cyber employees by at least 50 people.1,” Wray testified in April 2023.
FOX News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.
