Top spy agency of Australia, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization\u2019s (ASIO) director general of security Mike Burgess said hackers working for China\u2019s government and military have investigated the nations vital infrastructure and communications network, alerting people to the possibility of sabotage causing economic upheaval. Burgess further warned about the effects of widespread telecom interruption, including the disruption of banks and transportation, as well as loss of power and water supply.<\/p>\n
According to him the hackers have been scanning and testing Australia\u2019s telecom system for any weakness, their actions seem to be intended to \u201cpre-position\u201d themselves within network to interfere or deactivate system in the event of future geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n
Burgess further claimed<\/span><\/span><\/a> at a business conference in Melbourne, that the espionage was estimated to have cost the country $12.5 billion last year, which also included the loss of a $ 2 billion in trade secrets and intellectual property. Additionally, he listed the two hacking groups thought to be responsible for this, the groups known as Salt Typhoon<\/strong> and Volt Typhoon<\/strong>, these groups are already on western intelligence radar for previous cyber operation against government and corporate system in US and Pacific nations.<\/p>\n It’s a Chinese state sponsored<\/span><\/span><\/a> hacker group first publicly identified by the security analyst at Microsoft in May 2023. However, some government and cybersecurity experts think the group has been targeting infrastructure since mid-2021, and possibly much longer. Volt typhoon uses malicious software to infiltrate internet connected computers by taking advantage of flaws like weak administrator passwords, factory default logins, and infrequently updated devices<\/strong>. The hackers have also attacked communication, electricity, transportation, water, and wastewater systems.<\/p>\n It also takes control of vulnerable internet devices such as routers and security cameras in order to conceal itself and create a beachhead before utilizing that system to launch subsequent attacks. Volt typhoon can cause economic damage and disruption in critical infrastructure around the world; Microsoft 2023 report<\/span><\/span><\/a> also claims that Volt Typhoon is capable disrupting critical communications infrastructure between the US and Asia region during future crisis.<\/p>\n Volt Typhoon also poses a geopolitical cybersecurity threat; they also serve as a reminder to everyone to keep an eye on international events and think about how they might impact the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of everything digital.<\/p>\n Salt Typhoon is an Advanced Persistent Threat<\/strong> (APT) group associated with China that is thought to have started activities in 2022. It has since launched some of the biggest cyber espionage operations against international telecom networks. Salt Typhoon has infiltrated major US telecom providers<\/span><\/span><\/a> like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, the group exploit technical vulnerability of cybersecurity products and deploy malware for future use, they also gain access to content of phone calls, text messages, and when or who a specific individual is communicating with.<\/p>\n Despite public exposure and sanctions, Salt Typhoon was able to stay embedded for an extended period of time by taking advantage of unpatched network devices and pre existing vendors’ vulnerabilities. This allowed the group to monitor vital infrastructure, prepare for future disruption, and operate globally.<\/p>\n The major issue lies in if one nation can get undetected access into another\u2019s infrastructure, they could choose when to exploit it, potentially causing large-scale disruption. For Australia, this means heightened vigilance, stronger cybersecurity, possible reviewing foreign technology involvement, and tighter monitoring of infrastructure networks.<\/p>\nWho are Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon<\/h2>\n
Volt Typhoon<\/h3>\n
Salt Typhoon<\/h3>\n