FBI Chief Warns Of Cyberattack Threat From China Against US Infrastructure

Hackers connected to the Chinese government have gained access to vital U.S. infrastructure and are holding out "for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow," FBI Director Christopher Wray stated earlier this month.

In a speech at Vanderbilt University, Wray stated that a Chinese cyber campaign known as Volt Typhoon had effectively acquired access to many American companies in the telecommunications, energy, water, and other key sectors. The campaign has targeted 23 pipeline operators.
Wray states that it was challenging to tell the purpose of China's cyber-pre-positioning, which was consistent with its larger goal of dissuading the United States from supporting Taiwan, which vehemently rejects China's claims of sovereignty, arguing that the people of the island alone should determine their own destiny.

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier this week, opens new tab Volt Typhoon belongs to a criminal ransomware group and is not associated with the Chinese government.
At the Vanderbilt Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats in 2024, Wray stated that China is gaining the "ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing." ... "Its plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic."