Based Underground is now a conservative news aggregator AND curated newsletter.
The Biden administration is hunting for malware believed to originate from Chinese attackers in critical infrastructure systems that support U.S. military bases worldwide, The New York Times reported Saturday, citing unspecified military, intelligence and national security officials.
U.S. officials and industry experts believe the malware discovered by Microsoft in U.S. networks affecting Guam and other strategic sites may be just one example in a larger Chinese operation to plant malicious code dating back at least a year, the NYT reported. One congressional official described the malware as a “ticking time bomb” Beijing could activate in the event of a conflict with the U.S. or an invasion of Taiwan, which could disrupt U.S. military operations and cripple its response.
China’s efforts to infect important networks are far more extensive than the experts realized at first, the NYT reported. Most experts spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, some of which are classified.
The affected networks control power grids, water supply and communications systems that support U.S. military operations but are connected to civilian systems, according to the NYT.
Microsoft attributed the attack in Guam to a Chinese state-backed hacking group dubbed Volt Typhoon, which deploys a strain of malware that can remain hidden within systems for years.
Within the administration, officials are trying to discern whether China’s goal is to target U.S. military operations during a contingency or disrupt civilian life more broadly, but the data so far shows more compromised networks in areas with higher concentrations of military outposts, according to the NYT.
Cyber Attacks and Typhoon Mawar prompt Guam Cyber Conference | The attacks were attributed to Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored hacking group that carries out espionage and information gathering for the Chinese government. https://t.co/XZ7F4o4M38
— 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) (@780thC) July 24, 2023
The White House has convened military, intelligence and homeland security officials in Situation Room meetings to hash out the problem and devise a plan of action, according to the NYT. Administration officials have also begun briefing members of Congress and industry leaders on the issue.
The hunt for the malicious code has been going on for at least a year, the experts told the NYT.
The DOD referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the National Security Council.
“The Biden administration is working relentlessly to defend the United States from any disruptions to our critical infrastructure, including by coordinating interagency efforts to protect water systems, pipelines, rail and aviation systems, among others,” said Adam R. Hodge, the acting spokesman for the National Security Council, told the NYT. He did not directly mention China.
The campaign has puzzled the administration because it does not fit into the mold of familiar espionage-related hacking operations the U.S. and China have conducted against one another, according to the NYT. It “raises the question of what, exactly, they are preparing for,” a senior Biden adviser said.
Disruptions to water, power and other critical resources could slow a military response to a crisis in the Pacific by hours or days, affording China a massive window in which to pursue military aims.
China disputed the account.
“We have always firmly opposed and cracked down on all forms of cyberattacking in accordance with the law,” Haoming Ouyang, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told the NYT.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Most Accurate Pollster From 2020 Drops Final Numbers
by JD Rucker
Atlas Intel, which was hands down the most accurate public poll during the 2020 election, just dropped its final poll of the season. It points to landslide victory for Donald Trump. If Kamala Harris is able to win Minnesota and Virginia, two blue states that are in jeopardy of being…
A Kamala Harris Victory Means Green New Deal Lawfare
by Daily Signal
Expect Kamala Harris’ Justice Department to wage Green New Deal lawfare if she is elected president on Nov. 5. As with every last issue pertaining to this election, Harris has not said much about the substance of her climate policy. But a review of her record suggests she’d be amenable…
The Moral and Spiritual Issues That Demand Our Votes
by Harbingers Daily
As a pastor and a preacher, I want to urge all Christians this election season: Get out and vote. I believe it is our duty as citizens of our state and country, but I also believe it’s especially important given the issues represented in this election. Many of these are…
No Matter the Final Vote, This Election’s Biggest Loser May Be the Legacy News Media
by Just The News
In the sultry days of summer 2020 as Donald Trump contemplated a second term, his aides engaged in a quiet conversation with members of the emerging digital media about an audacious idea. The goal was to bypass the traditional news media who monopolized the White House Correspondents Association press room…
Democrats Unveil Dark, Diabolical Plans to Prevent Trump From Retaking White House – Even if He Wins!
by WND
With results from the 2024 presidential election now imminent, Democrats have been vocal in their plans to subvert the will of the American people and prevent former President Donald Trump from retaking the White House if he pulls out a win over his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris. In…
Trump Doesn’t Rule Out Banning Certain Vaccines if He Wins Election
by The Epoch Times
Former President Donald Trump in a new interview did not rule out banning some vaccines if he wins the upcoming election. “Well, I’m going to talk to him and talk to other people, and I’ll make a decision,” Trump told NBC over the weekend when asked if banning vaccines would…
Trump, Republicans Pin Hopes on Record Early Voting in North Carolina
by Jeff Louderback, The Epoch Times
(The Epoch Times)—In his final North Carolina rally of the 2024 campaign, former President Donald Trump predicted he would win the state where he prevailed in 2016 and 2020. “North Carolina’s reliable for me,” Trump said at Dorton Arena in Raleigh, the first of four stops on Election Day Eve….
If Godly People Don’t Vote, Godless People Will: The Christian Case for Voting
by The Blaze
Do Christians have a spiritual responsibility to vote? Allie Beth Stuckey of “Relatable” and the senior pastor of Lakepointe Church, Josh Howerton, believe the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” “I’ll gently venture out on a limb,” Howerton tells Stuckey. “I think Christians have a spiritual responsibility to…
Here’s Proof the FBI Protected Biden in 2020, and Why Congress is More Important Than the White House
by PJ Media
You won’t find it reported on the A-section pages of the New York Times or the Washington Post even though it is quite likely the most significant report produced by any investigative committee in Congress since the Church Committee in 1976. For those who need a refresher, the investigative committee…
The Media Made Sure This Election Was Never Going to Be Free or Fair
by The Federalist
The corrupt news media lied to voters on behalf of Democrats over and over ensuring an unfair election. How can we ever return to normal? It’s truly awe-inspiring to watch the news media berate Republicans, down to the very end, over the “free and fair” election we’re most certainly not…
“It’s Not Going to Be Close”: Mark Halperin Says One Key Voter Group Will Decide the Election
by Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller News Foundation
(DCNF)—Journalist Mark Halperin said on Monday that the turnout of women would decide the presidential election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump leads Harris by 0.1% in a head-to-head matchup, according to the RealClearPolling average of polls from Oct. 11 to Nov. 3, with Trump’s…
It Was the Night Before the Election, and Everyone Was Freaking Out
by Michael Snyder
(End of the American Dream)—I have never seen so much doubt, worry, anxiety, fear and panic as we approach a presidential election. All over the country, people are freaking out right now. Democrats are freaking out because the early voting numbers are so dramatically different from 2020. Republicans are freaking…
