FBI Director Warns of Chinese Cyber Threat to U.S. Critical Infrastructure

Wray highlighted the ongoing targeting of water treatment plants, the electrical grid, transportation systems, and other vital facilities within the United States.

Speaking before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Wray emphasized the urgency of addressing a cyber threat that affects “every American.” He expressed concern that China’s hackers are positioning themselves within American infrastructure, preparing to cause real-world harm if they decide to strike. Wray stated that there has been “far too little public focus” on the gravity of the situation.

Simultaneously, the Justice Department and FBI announced the disruption of a botnet consisting of hundreds of U.S.-based small office and home routers. These routers, owned by private citizens and companies, were hijacked by Chinese state hackers to obscure their tracks and hide their origin while deploying malware.

Jen Easterly, the director of the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity arm, echoed Wray’s concerns during the hearing. She emphasized the interconnected nature of the modern world, where a major crisis elsewhere could endanger Americans through disruptions to pipelines, telecommunications, water facilities, and transportation.

Wray’s comments align with assessments from cybersecurity firms like Microsoft, which warned in May that state-backed Chinese hackers were targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. The recent operation, attributed to a hacking group known as Volt Typhoon, infiltrated targets through various avenues, including cloud and internet providers.

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The disruption of the Volt Typhoon operation involved obtaining search-and-seizure orders in a Texas federal court. The hackers, exploiting vulnerabilities in end-of-life Cisco and NetGear routers, were using the botnet as a cover while infiltrating U.S. internet traffic and networks of critical infrastructure.

While China denies the U.S. government’s allegations, U.S. officials emphasize the need to counter state-backed cyber operations actively. Wray stated that China’s hackers are engaged in wholesale theft of innovation, economic security, and personal and corporate data on a daily basis.

In response to the urgency of the situation, U.S. cyber operators deleted the malware from compromised routers without directly notifying owners, aiming to prevent re-infection. The Justice Department officials highlighted the determination to disrupt the Volt Typhoon operation promptly, as the hackers were leveraging the botnet to hide within U.S. internet traffic, ready to exploit critical infrastructure networks at their discretion.

As the U.S. government intensifies efforts to counter cyber threats, concerns grow about the potential impact of such attacks on essential services and national security.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, established last year to address challenges posed by China, continues to scrutinize and respond to evolving threats.