China admits to being behind Volt Typhoon cyber activity targeting US (www.cyberdaily.au)
from Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org to technology@beehaw.org on 15 Apr 06:27
https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32710446

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Original article behind paywall

Volt Typhoon has been responsible for intrusions into vital critical infrastructure both in the continental United States and its possessions through the Pacific.

The group has made transport hubs and water utilities a particular target, with the hackers so far not causing any disruption but rather prepositioning themselves ahead of any hostile action.

The admission of Chinese responsibility came during a secret meeting between outgoing Biden administration officials and Chinese representatives on the sidelines of a summit in Geneva in December 2024. According to two anonymous observers, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported late last week that the Chinese attendants referred indirectly to the activity as being a warning for the US to stay away from any attempts to support or defend Taiwan.

According to the WSJ, the comments were “indirect and somewhat ambiguous”; however, US officials present felt the meaning was plain.

Speaking to Cyber Daily’s sister brand, Defence Connect, earlier this year, Adam Meyers, SVP of counter-adversary operations at CrowdStrike, said that Volt Typhoon’s activity was clearly aimed at disrupting any US action in the region.

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noorbeast@lemmy.zip on 15 Apr 07:27 next collapse

The title is misleading, rather ‘Two anonymous observers in secret Biden talks claim Volt Typhoon has been responsible for intrusions into vital critical infrastructure’.

Click bait headlines and journalism are as much a threat to democracy and independent critical thought as the CCP.

Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org on 15 Apr 07:34 collapse

Just read the article before you (intentionally?) misinterpret the content:

The admission of Chinese responsibility came during a secret meeting between outgoing Biden administration officials and Chinese representatives on the sidelines of a summit in Geneva in December 2024. […] The Chinese attendants referred indirectly to the activity as being a warning for the US to stay away from any attempts to support or defend Taiwan.

noorbeast@lemmy.zip on 15 Apr 08:40 collapse

Not only did I read the article, what you have quoted further confirms the misleading title, the source is anonymous and there is an interpretation of intent, not direct or open admission.

Could the CCP be responsible, absolutely, is there clear evidence of admission, rather than international diplomatic posturing, not at all.

If you believe there is a clear factual open admission and ownership of guilt by the CCP then please point me to it.

Some leaders are not so subtle in international interactions when making threats, even in the full glare of public media.

randomname@scribe.disroot.org on 15 Apr 12:50 next collapse

One of the more elaborated news on that topic:

Chinese officials have implicitly acknowledged responsibility for a series of sophisticated cyber intrusions targeting critical U.S. infrastructure.

During a high-level meeting in Geneva with American officials, representatives from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indirectly linked years of computer network breaches at U.S. ports, water utilities, airports, and other critical targets to increasing U.S. policy support for Taiwan […]

Wang Lei, a top cyber official with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the comments after U.S. representatives emphasized that China appeared not to understand how dangerous prepositioning in civilian critical infrastructure was, and how such actions could be viewed as an act of war […]

The admission is considered extraordinary, as Chinese officials have typically denied involvement in cyber operations, blamed criminal entities, or accused the U.S. of fabricating allegations.

Dakota Cary, a China expert at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, noted that such an acknowledgment, even indirectly, likely required instructions from the highest levels of President Xi Jinping’s government.

Source

[Edit to insert archived source link.]

megopie@beehaw.org on 15 Apr 15:38 collapse

So two anonymous observers saw someone else receive an indirect and somewhat ambiguous comment? And this is a bullet proof definite smoking gun admission? Or just… mildly informed speculation that could mean a thousand other things?