BREAKING: FBI and Justice Department Stops Chinese Hackers Targeting U.S. Infrastructure

Looks like the Justice Department did something right.

They put the brakes on the Chinese government snoping around into our infrastructure.

You’d think they’d just ask one of their many spies to just pop on a computer on location.

I’m sure they’re trying that too.

You see, similar to hacking a system to get data, to get our information, this type of breach they were aiming for is one that can control the data.

For example, turning off systems.

Shutting down power grids, and things of that nature.

JUST IN: The Justice Department has announced it has successfully disrupted an effort by Chinese government-sponsored hackers to target critical U.S. infrastructure networks using malware that hijacked "hundreds" of home and small business routers. https://t.co/dWY5O5Nl8O

— ABC News (@ABC) January 31, 2024

ABC News reports:

The Justice Department announced Wednesday it has successfully disrupted an effort by Chinese government-sponsored hackers to target U.S. critical infrastructure networks using a malware that had hijacked “hundreds” of home and small business routers.

Through a court-authorized operation launched last month, U.S. officials say they were able to dismantle the botnet by removing the malware inside the U.S.-based victim routers and also took further steps to prevent the routers from being reinfected.

In a background call with reporters Wednesday, officials declined to go into specific details regarding the critical infrastructure networks that were targeted by the Chinese hacking group — known as ‘Volt Typhoon,’ but in remarks to Congress on Wednesday FBI Director Chris Wray called out China for its efforts to target “water treatment plants, our electrical grid, our oil and natural gas pipelines, our transportation systems.”

Officials said that the owners of the impacted devices were “by and large, every day American citizens and small businesses” who the Chinese hackers were effectively using as a node to route traffic through to conceal their activity. After securing the search and seizure order last month, officials deleted the malware from the impacted servers and modified firewall rules to prevent further communications with the critical infrastructure networks.

The FBI said it is in the process of contacting impacted device owners to ensure they update their routers.

FBI says it has taken down a large botnet of malware installed by Chinese hackers on hundreds of routers inside the US in an effort to get access to  infrastructure.

FBI says it used search and seizure warrants to remotely delete the malware without notifying device owners. pic.twitter.com/kFvR7aYiia

— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) January 31, 2024

Fox News added:

FBI Director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday that Chinese hackers are preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities.”

Wray and other government officials are testifying in front of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party for a hearing titled “The Chinese Community Party Cyber Threat to the American Homeland and National Security.”

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“There has been far too little public focus on the fact that PRC [People’s Republic of China] hackers are targeting our critical infrastructure – our water treatment plants, our electrical grid, our oil and natural gas pipelines, our transportation systems. And the risk that poses to every American requires our attention now,” Wray told lawmakers.

“China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if and when China decides the time has come to strike,” he added.

Wray previously testified in April last year that FBI agents are outnumbered by “at least 50 to 1” when attempting to address the threat China poses to critical infrastructure through its cyber hacking practices, and said Beijing has stolen more personal and corporate data from the U.S. than any other nation.

I recall someone anonymous posting something about “Trust Wray.”