Canberra [Australia], November 12 (ANI): Australia’s intelligence leadership has raised alarms over China’s expanding cyber operations, warning that Chinese state-backed hackers are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure with potential sabotage in mind, according to The Epoch Times.
Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), revealed that Chinese government-linked cyber groups, identified as Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon, have carried out a wave of cyberattacks on Australia’s most vital sectors, including telecommunications, energy, water, and transport systems.
Speaking at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s cybersecurity forum in Melbourne, Burgess stated that these hackers operate under the direction of China’s intelligence agencies and military. He noted that Volt Typhoon had already infiltrated US military infrastructure in Guam, acquiring the capability to “turn off telecommunications and other critical infrastructure.” Similar reconnaissance and penetration attempts have been detected in Australia, he said, with hackers seeking long-term, stealthy access that could be activated at any moment.
“When they penetrate your systems, they map them aggressively,” Burgess said, describing the campaigns as “highly sophisticated” operations intended to maintain control for potential sabotage.
Espionage and foreign interference caused an estimated $12.5 billion loss to Australia’s economy in 2023-24. Burgess cited a joint ASIO-Australian Institute of Criminology report projecting that cyber-enabled sabotage could cost up to $6 billion during a week-long disruption, figures he described as “extremely conservative.” He warned that such access could be weaponised to cripple companies, disrupt elections, or paralyse key industries during crises.
Burgess also accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of attempting to pressure ASIO into softening its public statements, asserting, “Complaining about ASIO doing its job will not stop my resolve.”
His remarks come amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, including a recent incident involving a Chinese jet’s hostile action against an Australian aircraft over the South China Sea.
Burgess concluded by urging Australian businesses to treat cyber defence as a matter of national security, underscoring the growing risks posed by state-backed cyber operations. (ANI)
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