Adversaries are toying with U.S. networks and D.C. is short on answers
By Becky BrackenNation-state adversaries are lurking in U.S. critical infrastructure networks right now, but government officials who came to speak at this year’s RSA conference in San Francisco were short on solutions.
A panel of policymakers this week were very clear on the threat. Salt Typhoon, a China-backed threat group, is particularly scary, having demonstrated uncanny skill in breaching sensitive networks. In fact, panel moderator Frank Cilluffo, director of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University, said Salt Typhoon’s attacks represent the most egregious cyber espionage against the U.S. ever, adding it crossed a “red line.” However, to date, there has been no penalty imposed.
“That’s bullsh*t,” retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery responded. “We should be tackling this with a sense of urgency.”