The United States is under widespread hacker attack, and it will be difficult to stop.

VietNamNet•25/05/2023

Furthermore, the software giant stated that the cyberattack also targeted the US territory of Guam, home to strategic military bases of Washington. Microsoft's report, corroborated by Western intelligence, indicates that the origin of this "campaign" stems from a hacking group backed by an Asian nation.

It is not yet clear exactly how many organizations have been affected, but the US National Security Agency (NSA) says it is working with partners including Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to identify the breaches.

Microsoft analysts believe that the hacking group known as "Volt Typhoon" has the potential to disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the US and Asia in the event of a future crisis.

Guam is home to strategic US military bases in the Asia-Pacific region.

John Hultquist, head of threat analysis at Google's Mandiant Intelligence, said that the "Volt Typhoon" activity is concerning as analysts have yet to determine the true capabilities of this hacking group.

Geopolitical motivations

The NSA and Western cybersecurity agencies have urged companies operating critical infrastructure to identify malicious activity using the technical guidelines already in place.

"It is crucial that operators of critical national infrastructure take action to prevent hackers from hiding on their systems," said Paul Chichester, head of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre.

NSA cybersecurity director Rob Joyce said that hacker groups backed by foreign governments are “using built-in cyber tools within critical infrastructure to evade defenses and leave no trace.”

In contrast to traditional hacking techniques, which often trick victims into downloading malicious files, Microsoft says the “Volt Typhoon” hacking group employs a method of infecting the victim's existing system to exploit information and extract data.

The Asian region, particularly the situation in the Taiwan Strait, poses significant geopolitical risks in the coming period. Meanwhile, Guam, currently home to US troops, holds a crucial geopolitical position for Washington to respond to potential crises in the Asia-Pacific region.

Microsoft stated that this hacking group has been active since at least 2021, having targeted a number of industries including media, manufacturing, utilities, transportation, construction, maritime, government, IT, and education.

New Zealand has affirmed it will work to identify any malicious activity embedded within the country. Meanwhile, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs and Cybersecurity, Clare O'Neil, said, "It is paramount to be transparent and frank about the threats we face."

The Canadian cybersecurity agency stated that it has not yet recorded any attacks affecting the country, but "Western economies are closely interconnected, and much of their infrastructure is integrated," therefore the possibility of negative impact from hackers cannot be ruled out.

(According to Reuters)

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