Hackers Attack America’s Water Supply, Hits Multiple Utilities In Several States – Cyber Attacks Can Do More Damage To The U.S. Than Bullets, Bombs Or Ballistic Missiles Can
While concerns continue to mount over border policies, rising costs, and the erosion of the military, a new threat looms large over the United States – cyber attacks. Recent incidents have sparked fears that these attacks could cause more damage to the nation than traditional methods of warfare.
In 2021, Jennifer Granholm, the energy secretary under President Biden, warned that cyber attacks against the power grid were happening all the time. She emphasized that hostile nations and enemies of the United States possess the capability to shut down the nation’s electrical grid. It’s not a matter of if, but when it will happen.
Fast forward to 2023-2024, and the evidence of foreign actors testing the nation’s cyber security is mounting. From disruptions to airlines’ websites to a month-long disruption in home sales, these attacks have already caused significant issues. One notable attack in May 2023 targeted the popular file transfer software known as MOVEit, affecting the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Shell, British Airways, and the United States Department of Energy.
These incidents highlight the vulnerability of the nation’s critical infrastructure and the potential consequences of cyber attacks. The list of attacks and breaches keeps growing, with organizations still uncovering related incidents and researchers warning of future reports.
Among the notable incidents from the later half of 2023:
– A Chinese-sponsored group known as Volt Typhoon targeted US critical infrastructure networks, including power grids.
– A China-backed hacking group stole a highly sensitive cryptographic key from Microsoft’s systems, compromising cloud-based Outlook email systems for multiple US government agencies.
– Vietnamese hackers attempted to install spyware on the phones of journalists, United Nations officials, and high-ranking US committee chairs.
– Chinese cyber operations increased in the South China Sea, with heightened attacks against the US defense industrial base and critical infrastructure.
– Hackers took X (formerly Twitter) offline in several countries and demanded the opening of Starlink in Sudan, causing disruption to thousands of individuals.
– MGM casinos and other properties suffered system outages after a cyberattack by an affiliate of the Alphv ransomware group, affecting ATMs, hotel keycards, and slot machines.
– T-Mobile experienced two separate attacks in 2023.
– Chinese hackers targeted a US military procurement system and several Taiwan-based organizations, attempting to exfiltrate data and establish covert proxy networks.
– Suspected North Korean hackers targeted a joint US-South Korean military exercise on countering nuclear threats, launching spear-phishing attacks.
– Chinese hackers breached the emails of prominent US government employees in the State Department and Department of Commerce through vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s email systems.
These incidents indicate the scope and severity of cyber threats facing the United States. The potential consequences range from financial losses to breach of contracts, delays, and disruption of essential services. Cyber attacks have the potential to cripple critical infrastructure, compromise national security, and cause chaos on a scale surpassing traditional forms of warfare.
As the United States grapples with these escalating threats, there is an urgent need for robust cyber defenses, international cooperation, and investment in cybersecurity measures. The nation must remain vigilant in protecting its critical infrastructure and work collectively to minimize the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The era of cyber warfare is here, and the United States must be prepared to defend itself against this insidious and rapidly evolving threat. The cost of complacency is too high, as the damage inflicted by cyber attacks can exceed the impact of bullets, bombs, or ballistic missiles.
