Understanding and Countering Volt Typhoon: A Collaborative Effort to Protect U.S. Infrastructure

The WSJ article (https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-disables-chinese-hacking-operation-that-targeted-critical-infrastructure-184bb407?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1) describes the congressional hearing addressing the threat posed by China by exploiting vulnerabilities in the U.S. infrastructure. The content of this article revisits the CISA advisory, which provides excellent insight into this threat and recommendations for its mitigation.

The Volt Typhoon campaign, a sophisticated cyber operation attributed to the People’s Republic of China, has recently come into sharp focus for U.S. cybersecurity officials. This campaign, characterized by its stealthy and destructive potential, represents a significant threat to U.S. infrastructure, necessitating a concerted response from government and industry sectors.

Origin and Nature of Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon is a state-sponsored cyber activity operational since at least 2021. It is associated with the Chinese government and is primarily known for targeting critical U.S. infrastructure sectors, including water treatment plants, electrical grids, and transportation systems. The campaign’s modus operandi involves using advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, remain undetected, and potentially disrupt essential services. This activity…