Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media platform: The Degel HaTorah party, which has four members in the Knesset, announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's cabinet.
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis

US critical infrastructure hacked, US blames Chinese-backed group

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 25 May 2023 11:53
4 Min Read

Microsoft alleged on Wednesday that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking gang acquired access to critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and other parts of the United States.

  • x
  • The front entrance sign for Anderson Air Force base is seen in Yigo, Guam on Thursday morning, Aug. 10, 2017. (AP)
    The front entrance sign for Anderson Air Force base is seen in Yigo, Guam on Thursday morning, Aug. 10, 2017. (AP)

The US and its cybersecurity allies are blaming a Chinese government-backed hacking outfit for eavesdropping on important US infrastructure companies, including one on the island territory of Guam, which houses strategic military sites.

Separate reports on Wednesday from Microsoft and Western intelligence agencies stated that hackers were able to introduce computer programs that blended into Microsoft Windows computers and elude detection while keeping access and gathering information.

Microsoft claimed in a separate statement that the intrusion was carried out by a state-sponsored Chinese hacking suit known as "Volt Typhoon."

The gang targeted corporations ranging from telecommunications to transportation centers, as well as Western intelligence agencies and Microsoft itself, as well as the US island territory of Guam, according to the report.

Home to US military facilities, Guam is a major communications hub connecting Asia and Australia to the United States by multiple submarine cables.

“Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing the development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises,” the tech company said. It further added that “observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible.”

Read next: China cyber units may bypass US network defenses in 5 years: WaPo

Microsoft experts expressed "moderate confidence" that this group was developing skills capable of disrupting crucial communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia in the event of a future crisis. "It means they are preparing for that possibility," John Hultquist, who heads threat analysis at Google's Mandiant Intelligence noted.

Related News

Bolton dismisses Trump’s Nobel hopes over Ukraine policy shift

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

The Chinese action is unique because experts do not yet have a clear picture of what this group is capable of, according to Hultquist. "There is greater interest in this actor because of the geopolitical situation,” he noted.

Security specialists have warned that if China makes a move on Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), hackers may target US military networks and other key infrastructure. It was unclear how many organizations were affected or what information had been obtained.

The cyberattack strategy is known as "living off the land," and it involves hackers exploiting "built-in network tools to evade our defenses while leaving no trace behind," according to Rob Joyce, NSA cybersecurity director.

Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand warned they could be targeted by the hackers too.

Read next: China says banning Micron products is 'necessary security measure'

However, Canada's cybersecurity agency indicated separately that no Canadian victims of the incident had been identified as of yet. "However, Western economies are deeply interconnected," according to the research. Similarly, the United Kingdom warned that the techniques used by Chinese hackers on US networks may be used globally. The Chinese government has yet to respond to the allegations.

Meanwhile, China has already branded the US as the “biggest threat to global cybersecurity,” saying that Washington “knowingly abuses technology” for spying and a range of other purposes.

The United States is seeking to preserve “hegemony in cyberspace” under the false pretext of “national security,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters back in April, urging the US to “stop its global hacking operations.”

The rivalry between the US and China has intensified in recent years, with Beijing’s growing international clout and rapid economic progress emerging as a viable counterweight to the US, which has recently been increasing its militarization around China, making Beijing feel threatened.

Read next: US Department of Transportation says cyber attack still unidentified

  • United States
  • Cybersecurity
  • China
  • Cyber Attack
  • Hacking

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS