Pentagon warns of China, Russia’s cyber attacks to disrupt U.S. during war.

China and Russia Ready to Launch ​Destructive Cyber Attacks on U.S.⁢ Critical‍ Infrastructure,‌ Pentagon ⁤Warns

The latest Pentagon ​cyber strategy reveals that China and Russia are prepared to unleash devastating ​cyber ​attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure in the event of war, aiming to sow chaos and hinder ‌military mobilization.

“The United States is challenged by malicious cyber actors who seek to exploit our technological​ vulnerabilities and undermine our military’s competitive edge,” states the introduction of the 2023 Department ⁢of Defense Cyber Strategy. “They target our critical infrastructure and endanger the American people. Defending against and defeating these⁤ cyber threats is a Department of Defense imperative.”

While China poses a long-term threat, Pentagon officials are currently‌ more concerned about Russia.

Cyber ⁢Attacks in Russia-Ukraine‍ Conflict

The ongoing​ war⁣ between Russia and Ukraine has seen a series of cyber attacks in Eastern ⁢Europe. Russian military and intelligence units have utilized various cyber tactics to disrupt Ukrainian military logistics, sabotage⁣ civilian infrastructure, and erode political will, according to the report.

Earlier this year,‌ POLITICO reported that Russia launched 300 attacks against Ukraine’s security and defense sector, 400 attacks ​on ⁢organizations ‍ranging from commercial and financial ⁣to telecommunications and ⁤software, and 500 ⁣attacks against government groups.

Although these efforts yielded limited results, the Pentagon report warns that the U.S. ⁤and its allies could become vulnerable to ⁢similar cyber attacks ⁣if Russia faces a⁤ moment of crisis.

China and Russia’s Cyber Threats

According to‍ DefenseNews, both China and Russia possess serious‍ cyber ‍threats that pose risks to⁤ national security. However, a 2021 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies ranked China and Russia behind the U.S. in terms of cyber power.

Mieke Eoyang, ⁤Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber‍ Policy, emphasized that China is the department’s “pacing challenge in the​ cyber domain,” while Russia poses a significant threat in cyberspace. The department continues to monitor recent activities in Ukraine.

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During a conference⁤ in ⁤Maryland, retired Air Force brigadier ⁤general Gregory Touhill highlighted the ongoing concerns about cyber attacks on critical infrastructure. He ⁢emphasized the ⁣need for integrated cyber capabilities alongside other warfighting capabilities, as cyber alone may have limited utility.

Chinese Communist Party’s Cyber Espionage

The report states that⁣ the⁢ Chinese Communist Party⁣ views superiority in cyberspace as crucial to its theories of‌ victory. China has engaged in espionage and theft, compromising key defense ‍networks and broader U.S. critical infrastructure.

In ⁣July, the Wall Street Journal reported that ⁤Chinese hackers targeted ⁤U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and senior officials at‌ the ‍State Department, gaining‍ access to email⁣ accounts from approximately ⁢two dozen organizations.

Retired Air Force brigadier general‌ Gregory ⁢Touhill emphasized that cyber attacks on critical infrastructure remain a significant concern⁤ both domestically and ⁢abroad, including threats such as denial-of-service attacks, ‌malicious software, ransomware, and theft of intellectual property.

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