US maritime infrastructure has been targeted by Volt Typhoon, a Chinese hacker group suspected of being financed by Beijing and highly specialized in spying operations.
Microsoft issued a statement in which it claimed to have discovered hacking attempts against US companies and organizations. In particular, the technology giant points out how hackers were able to install malware in ‘critical’ US systems, attacking, in particular, critical infrastructure organizations in Guam
Microsoft has urged clients who have been attacked to close all their compromised accounts or change their credentials. Volt Typhoon is believed to be a particularly dangerous hacker. Its main objective is to gather confidential information using compromised credentials and infiltrate itself into normal network activity by routing data traffic through hacked SOHO (small office and home office) network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware.
According to Microsoft, Volt Typhoon operates over a broad spectrum. Its attacks potentially affect all critical sectors, from communications to manufacturing, from public services to transport, from construction to maritime and government sectors.
In a press release, China responded to the US accusations, branding them as a disinformation campaign.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that it was an extremely unprofessional report with a missing chain of evidence, just a cut-and-paste job.
Translation by Giles Foster