A report warns that the possible presence of Chinese malware on American systems is a "ticking time bomb.".
The Biden administration believes that China has installed malware in key American energy and communications networks, creating a “time bomb” that could cause disruption to the military during conflicts, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
According to The Times, citing US military, intelligence and security officials, the malware could theoretically give China's People's Liberation Army the ability to disrupt military operations if Beijing decides to act against Taiwan at some point.
The affected systems, the Times reported, could allow China not only to cut off water, power and communications to U.S. military bases, but also to homes and businesses across the United States.
The report comes two months after Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had infiltrated critical infrastructure networks in the United States.
Microsoft chose Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean with a vital military outpost, as a target, but said dangerous activities had also been detected elsewhere in the United States.
It was reported that the stealth attack, which has been underway since mid-2021, is likely aimed at deterring the United States in the event of a regional conflict.
Authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain simultaneously warned that Chinese hackers were likely carrying out global attacks, affecting a wide range of infrastructure.
The discovery of the malware, according to the Times, prompted a series of meetings at the White Houseinvolving top military, intelligence and national security officials, aimed at identifying and eliminating the code.
The White House issued a statement on Friday, which did not mention China or the military bases.
“The Biden administration is working tirelessly to defend the United States from disruptions to our critical infrastructure, including by coordinating efforts across agencies to protect our water, pipeline, rail, and air systems,” said Adam Hodge, deputy spokesman for the National Security Council.
He added that President Joe Biden “has also promoted rigorous cybersecurity practices for the first time.”
Reports of the malware operation come at a particularly tense point in US-China relations.
Information source: securityweek.com
