Biden Administration Hunts Chinese 'Malware' That Could Disrupt US Military Operations, Critical Infra: Report

The Biden administration is reportedly hunting a malicious computer code that it believes China has implanted in key US power and communications networks, according to a New York Times report.

This malware is reportedly being seen as a potential threat that could disrupt the US military operations in the event of a conflict.

According to US military, intelligence, and security officials quoted in the report, the malware gives China's People's Liberation Army the ability to disrupt US military operations if the Beijing were to take action against Taiwan in the future.

The affected systems not only pose a risk to US military bases but also to homes and businesses across the country.

China could potentially cut off water, power, and communications, causing widespread disruption and chaos.

This report comes after Microsoft issued a warning two months ago about state-sponsored Chinese hackers infiltrating critical US infrastructure networks.

Microsoft identified Guam, a US Pacific territory with a significant military presence, as one of the targets of a recent cyber attack.

However, the tech giant has also detected malicious activity in other parts of the United States.

The attack, which has reportedly been ongoing since mid-2021, appears to have the objective of impeding the United States in the event of a regional conflict.

Authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Britain have issued warnings about the global reach of these cyber attacks.

The discovery of the malware linked to the cyber attack has prompted urgent action within the United States.

The White House Situation Room has hosted a series of meetings involving top military, intelligence, and national security officials.

Their primary focus is to locate and eliminate the malicious code.

The newspaper quoted one congressional official as saying the malware operation amounted to "a ticking time bomb".

In a statement on Friday (27 July), the White House said that the Biden administration was "working relentlessly" to defend the critical infrastructure in the US. The statement, however, did not mention China or military bases.

"The Biden administration is working relentlessly to defend the United States from any disruptions to our critical infrastructure, including by coordinating interagency efforts to protect water systems, pipelines, rail and aviation systems, among others," said Adam Hodge, acting spokesman for the National Security Council.

President Joe Biden "has also mandated rigorous cybersecurity practices for the first time", he added.

Reports of a malware operation have surfaced during a tense period in US-China relations.

China is asserting its claim that Taiwan is part of its territory, while the U.S. is aiming to prohibit the sale of advanced semiconductors to Beijing.