Australia Spy Chief Warns of China Hackers Probing Networks

The head of Australia’s intelligence agency has raised serious concerns about Chinese state-sponsored hackers targeting the country's essential communication and infrastructure networks. In a powerful address at a financial regulation conference held in Melbourne on Wednesday, Mike Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, highlighted the expanding scope of cyber activities attributed to China. Burgess stated that while the United States has traditionally been a primary target, Australian networks are increasingly under scrutiny. He noted that the Volt Typhoon hacking group has been actively probing critical infrastructure, emphasizing that these hackers were previously involved in compromising American networks for potential sabotage. Additionally, he mentioned another group, known as Salt Typhoon, which has been infiltrating Australia’s telecommunications networks and engaging in espionage activities against the United States. Burgess pointed out that the appeal of cyber-enabled espionage for foreign intelligence agencies lies in its low cost and high-impact potential, as well as the ability to deny involvement and scale operations. Once these hackers access a network, Burgess warned, the consequences depend on their intent rather than their technical capabilities. He expressed concern about the potential for severe disruption, stating, "I do not think we – and I mean all of us – truly appreciate how disruptive, how devastating, this could be." Earlier this year, allied intelligence services had indicated that the Volt Typhoon group had been embedded within some critical Australian industry networks for several years. In response to Burgess's comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the allegations, claiming that the Australian official had repeatedly attacked China and spread misinformation. Guo also mentioned that China had lodged a diplomatic protest regarding the accusations. In his speech, Burgess referenced Australia’s decision in 2018 to bar Chinese companies from participating in the construction of the nation’s 5G network, citing the need to protect critical infrastructure from perceived high-risk vendors like Huawei Technologies Co. This move set a precedent that many other countries have since followed.