What is Volt Typhoon?

May 26, 2023

Volt Typhoon is a hacking group that has been active since at least 2017. The group is believed to be state-sponsored by China and is known for its focus on espionage and information gathering. Volt Typhoon has been linked to a number of high-profile attacks, including the 2019 breach of the SolarWinds Orion software supply chain.

What is the concern regarding Volt Typhoon’s activities?

There is concern that Volt Typhoon could pose a threat to American infrastructure. The group has been known to target organizations in the telecommunications, transportation, and energy sectors. If Volt Typhoon were to successfully disrupt critical infrastructure, it could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and national security.

Which major powers have similar hacking groups?

Major powers like the United States and Russia have their own hacking groups, often given colorful nicknames by cybersecurity experts, such as “Equation Group” or “Fancy Bear.” These groups are typically used to gather intelligence on foreign governments and organizations.

What did Microsoft say about Volt Typhoon in a blog post?

In a blog post, Microsoft stated that Volt Typhoon was pursuing the development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia during future crises. Microsoft also assessed with moderate confidence that Volt Typhoon was behind a series of attacks on critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.

What does “moderate confidence” mean in the context of intelligence assessment?

“Moderate confidence” is a term used in intelligence jargon to indicate that a theory is plausible and credibly sourced, but it has not been fully corroborated. In the case of Volt Typhoon, Microsoft’s assessment is based on a variety of factors, including the group’s known capabilities, its targets, and its methods.

What is the current focus of Volt Typhoon’s activities according to Marc Burnard of Secureworks?

Marc Burnard of Secureworks mentioned that Volt Typhoon appears to be primarily focused on stealing information from organizations in the United States that hold data related to the military or government. However, Burnard also noted that Volt Typhoon has the capability to disrupt critical infrastructure if it chooses to do so.

What evidence did Cisco Systems Inc find that suggests Volt Typhoon is preparing for something dangerous?

Cisco Systems Inc found evidence that Volt Typhoon was preparing for something dangerous during their investigation at a critical infrastructure facility. The evidence included tools and techniques that are typically used for sabotage.

How does Volt Typhoon hide its tracks?

Volt Typhoon is described as a particularly quiet operator that hides its traffic by routing it through hacked network equipment, such as home routers. They also carefully remove evidence of intrusions from victim’s logs.

How has China responded to allegations of hacking, including the case of Volt Typhoon?

China routinely denies engaging in hacking activities and has done so again in the case of Volt Typhoon. However, evidence of Beijing’s cyberespionage campaigns has been building for over two decades.

What is the likely reason behind Volt Typhoon’s interest in operational security according to Secureworks?

Secureworks suggests that Volt Typhoon’s interest in operational security is likely driven by embarrassment over U.S. indictments and increased pressure from Chinese leadership to avoid public scrutiny of their cyberespionage activities.

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