CNN
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FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Wednesday that Chinese hackers are preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world damage” in the United States.
“Chinese hackers are infiltrating American infrastructure in preparation for wreaking havoc and causing real-world damage.” If or when China We decided it was time to strike,” Lei told the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Communist Party of China.
Cyber officials have long been sounding the alarm about China’s offensive cyber capabilities, but Wray’s dramatic public warning comes as a top official in the U.S. government over the threat Chinese hackers pose to critical infrastructure across the country. highlighted major concerns. The head of the National Security Agency and other senior U.S. officials also testified Wednesday before the panel about Chinese cyber activity.
Ray said Chinese government-backed hackers are targeting water treatment facilities, power infrastructure, oil and natural gas pipelines, and more.
Chinese hackers are “discovering and sabotaging or preparing to destroy critical civilian infrastructure that keeps us safe and prosperous,” Ray said. “And let me be clear: Cyber threats to our critical infrastructure are real-world threats to our physical security.”
The Chinese government has so far denied allegations of hacking.
The hearings came as U.S. and Chinese officials urged a de-escalation of relations between the two superpowers. During a meeting in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping assured U.S. President Joe Biden that China would not interfere in the 2024 U.S. election, CNN exclusively reported on Tuesday. Over the weekend, China’s foreign minister reiterated this belief to Biden’s national security adviser, sources told CNN. U.S. officials will closely monitor whether Mr. Xi keeps his promise.
Asked about the guarantees at a House hearing, Mr. Wray said, “China has promised a lot over the years, so when you see it, you’ll believe it.”
The focus of the hearing was not on the U.S. election, but on how Chinese hackers are allegedly infiltrating computer networks at U.S. ports, energy plants and other key infrastructure.
“The truth is that Chinese cyber attackers took advantage of a very basic flaw in our technology. We have made it easy for them,” said Jenn, who heads the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Easterly told lawmakers.
“Unfortunately, the technology that underpins our critical infrastructure is inherently insecure because software developers have not been held accountable for defective technology for decades. “This creates an incentive for speed, making our country vulnerable to cyber intrusion. That has to stop,” Easterly said.
The FBI and Justice Department have previously emphasized their focus on thwarting malicious campaigns by the Chinese government and hackers.
In recent months, federal law enforcement agencies have used court orders to inform the Department of Justice that hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are at the center of a Chinese hacking campaign targeting sensitive U.S. information, CNN reports. The company has given permission to remove malicious code from or otherwise protect devices. infrastructure. Nevertheless, hackers are believed to have penetrated deep into US infrastructure.
The move by the Justice Department and FBI is part of a broader government-wide attempt to soften the impact of China’s persistent hacking efforts, which could hamper the U.S. military’s response if China invades Taiwan. CNN reported that US authorities are concerned. report. Hackers are believed to have used their access to some devices to further penetrate sensitive critical infrastructure such as ports and transport networks.
Part of the problem facing U.S. authorities is a pure numbers game. Wray reiterated Wednesday that he believes Chinese cyber operatives outnumber all FBI agents by at least 50 to one.
Gen. Paul Nakasone, the head of the National Security Agency, also told lawmakers that chasing hackers from America’s critical networks is an ongoing concern.
“We need to continue to be vigilant,” Nakasone said. “This is not a temporary threat we face. This is persistent.”
Wray said Wednesday that China’s efforts extend beyond technology, saying, “They target our freedoms, reach within our borders and across America, to silence and coerce our people and residents. and threatening them,” he warned.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Evan Perez contributed to this report.