Due to state-sponsored Chinese hackers accessing US communication networks in the Pacific, there are worries that Beijing could cut down American military communications during an invasion of Taiwan.
Hackers with the codename ‘Volt Typhoon’ were discovered accessing vital national infrastructure on the Pacific island of Guam, which serves as an important military staging area for the US in the region, according to security researchers at Microsoft.
Unveiling Chinese Threats to US Communications in the Pacific
The revelation of the Volt Typhoon operation will fuel concerns that China may try to sabotage US communications in the area if it invades Taiwan.
Taiwan is legitimately a part of China, according to President Xi Jinping, who has promised to annex the island.
President Joe Biden has often promised to support Taiwan’s military if it is attacked by Beijing. Taiwan has been a longtime friend of the US.
For the US military, Guam serves as a crucial staging area in the western Pacific. Less than 2,000 miles from Taiwan, the American island territory would be a key component of America’s response to a Chinese invasion.
Guam is home to crucial communication systems for the area. The island is traversed by two important communication cables: one connects Taiwan and Singapore to Tokyo while the other connects Japan and Australia.
The Five Eyes spy partnership sent out a global alert after learning about the Chinese state cyber ring.
Read more: Evidence Counters Biden’s Assertions: US Military Equipment Employed In Russia, According To Report
Securing Critical Infrastructure
It was unclear how many firms were impacted right away, but the US National Security Agency (NSA) declared that it was collaborating with other organizations including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to find security flaws.
Warnings were made by Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand that they might also be the target of the hackers.
The Chinese organization known as ‘Volt Typhoon,’ which Microsoft researchers described as having moderate confidence’ in its ability to damage crucial communications infrastructure between the US and Asia during future crises.
If China invades Taiwan, security experts predict that Chinese hackers may attack American military networks and other vital infrastructure.
The NSA and other Western cyber agencies requested businesses that oversee crucial infrastructure to identify hostile activity using the technical guidance they provided.
In a joint statement with the NSA, Paul Chichester, director of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, emphasized the importance of operators of important national infrastructure taking action to prevent attackers from hiding on their systems.
Read more: Historic World War Two US Navy Ship Discovered Sunken Off Japan’s Coast
