The affected systems could allow China to cut off essential services such as electricity, water and communications to military bases as well as homes and businesses across the US. The malware is believed to help the Chinese military disrupt US military operations in the event of Beijing making moves against Taiwan.
B-2 bombers at the US base on Guam island
The discovery triggered a series of meetings in the White House Situation Room with top officials to track down and stop the malware. The New York Times quoted a US congressional official as saying that the malware campaign was like a ticking time bomb in the US system.
In comments on July 29, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge did not mention China or US military bases, but said only that the administration was working around the clock to protect the country from disruptions to critical infrastructure, according to AFP. He also added that President Biden had ordered the implementation of strong cybersecurity measures.
The disclosure comes two months after Microsoft warned that Chinese hackers had penetrated critical US infrastructure networks, including on the island of Guam. Microsoft said the attack, which began in mid-2021, could have been aimed at hindering the US in the event of a conflict. As of yesterday, China had not commented on The New York Times' information.
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