FBI issues warning of Chinese hackers set to cause mayhem and threaten US lives

01 February 2024 , 00:45

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FBI Director Christopher Wray (Image: Getty Images)

The US is about to suffer "real-world harm" from Chinese hackers, an FBI official informed the US House select committee this week.

“China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike,” FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

While cyber experts have long warned of China's offensive cyber capabilities, Wray's stark public warning highlights the extreme worry at the highest levels of the US government about the threat Chinese hackers represent to the country's vital infrastructure. In front of the panel on Wednesday, the head of the National Security Agency and other top US officials also gave testimony regarding Chinese cyber activity.

READ MORE: China's Xi Jinping tells Joe Biden he won't interfere in 2024 US election

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised President Biden China wouldn't interfere in us elections (AFP via Getty Images)

According to Wray, water treatment facilities, electrical infrastructure, and pipelines carrying natural gas and oil are among the targets of hackers supported by the Chinese government. He said the goal of the Chinese hackers is to locate and get ready to destroy or degrade the civilian critical infrastructure that keeps us safe and prosperous. "Let's be clear: real-world threats to our physical safety are represented by cyberthreats to our critical infrastructure," he said.

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Wray said the goal of the Chinese hackers is to locate and destroy civilian critical infrastructure (Getty Images)

Allegations of hacking attempts have previously been refuted by the Chinese government. Following a significant push by US and Chinese officials to reduce tensions in their relationship, the two superpowers are holding this hearing.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised US President Joe Biden during a meeting in November that China would not meddle in the 2024 US election. This past weekend, the Chinese foreign minister reaffirmed that assurance to Biden's national security adviser, CNN was informed by sources. US officials will be keeping a careful eye on Xi's intentions.

China denied the allegations (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Wray responded, "China's promised a lot of things over the years, so I guess I'll believe it when I see it," when questioned about the assurance during the House hearing. “The truth is the Chinese cyber actors have taken advantage of very basic flaws in our technology. We have made it easy on them,” Jen Easterly, who leads the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told lawmakers.

“Unfortunately, the technology underpinning our critical infrastructure is inherently insecure because of decades of software developers not being held liable for defective technology. That has led to incentives where features and speed to market have been prioritized against security, leading our nation vulnerable to cyber invasion. That has to stop,” Easterly said.

Mataeo Smith