In a surprising revelation during a confidential meeting in December, Chinese officials acknowledged their involvement in a hacking campaign targeting U.S. infrastructure. This admission, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, marks a significant shift from China’s usual denials regarding cybersecurity allegations. The Chinese government attributed these attacks, which have affected U.S. water utilities and ports, to American support for Taiwan, with security experts labeling the hackers as "Volt Typhoon."
Meanwhile, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, along with the FBI, issued a warning that Chinese intelligence services are actively trying to recruit current and former U.S. federal employees by masquerading as private organizations.
In further developments, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it would begin monitoring the social media activities of immigrants for indications of antisemitism. This policy targets immigrants applying for various legal statuses in the U.S. and has raised concerns following controversial arrests related to pro-Palestinian activism.
Additionally, President Trump ordered a federal investigation into Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, revoking his security clearance. Krebs had previously disputed Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud during the 2020 presidential election. The executive order also extends to employees at his current firm, SentinelOne, amidst allegations that Krebs violated free speech by contradicting false narratives.
In cybersecurity news, top officials from the NSA and Cyber Command announced their withdrawal from the upcoming RSA Security Conference due to travel restrictions imposed by their agencies. This decision follows the recent dismissal of General Timothy Haugh, who led both organizations.
These events underscore a tumultuous period in U.S.-China relations, intensified surveillance on immigrant social media, and the ongoing fallout from Trump’s controversial actions regarding election integrity and cybersecurity leadership.
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