Defending Against Cyber Threats: FBI Thwarts Chinese Hacking Ring 

In a recent development reported in Newsweek, the FBI successfully thwarted a cyber-attack plot by a group of hackers sponsored by the Chinese government. These hackers, known as "Volt Typhoon" or "Bronze Silhouette," were planning to target crucial American infrastructure. Specifically, American water treatment plants, electrical grids, oil and natural gas pipelines, transportation systems. The operation, approved by a court order last month, disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office (SOHO) routers that had been hijacked by the People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored hackers. 

The attackers used a sophisticated technique, infecting SOHO routers with "KV Botnet" malware to disguise their activities, making it challenging to trace the origin of the hacking attempts. The FBI, however, managed to remove the malware from these routers, cutting off communication between them and the devices directing the botnet's activities.  

"The United States will continue to dismantle malicious cyber operations, including those sponsored by foreign governments, that undermine the security of the American people," stated U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. 

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the severity of the situation, warning that PRC hackers are actively targeting critical infrastructure. He urged Congress to invest in the FBI's cyber capacity, revealing the scale of the challenge: "The PRC has a bigger hacking program than every other major nation combined." 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the allegations, stating that China opposes all forms of cyberattacks and accusing the U.S. of making groundless accusations. However, Wray argued that the focus should be on protecting American infrastructure, as hackers are laying the groundwork for potential havoc in future conflicts. 

Defending against cyber threats has become a crucial task in today's interconnected world. The recent actions by the FBI underscore the ongoing challenges posed by state-sponsored hacking, emphasizing the need for increased cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and national security. 

Luckily, there's a way to protect these critical networks. Tosibox offers automatic connectivity solutions that ensure secure authentication, auto-recover, automated firewall settings, and security upgrades. Customers all over the world trust their OT network infrastructure to Tosibox.  

To see Tosibox in action, read the case study about how using Tosibox ensures that the town of Pine Bluffs' critical infrastructure cyber security needs are met to help protect their water, wastewater, and electrical systems. Continue reading. 

 

Adapted from article originally published by Newsweek on Feb 01, 2024 at 4:41 AM EST