Chinese Hackers Outnumber FBI Cyber Agents by 50 to 1, Warns FBI Director

FBI Director Christopher Wray has testified that China’s cyber hacking practices pose an “unparalleled” threat to the United States, with the country having a bigger hacking program than every other major nation combined.

Wray appeared before the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday and stated that Chinese hackers have stolen more personal and corporate data from the US than any other nation, and if each of the FBI’s cyber agents focused solely on China, Chinese hackers would still outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1.

ALSO READ: Rs 903 Crore Investment Fraud Running From China Busted By Hyderabad Police: Here Is All You Need To Know

Wray added that the FBI is investigating over a hundred different ransomware variants, each with scores of victims, as well as novel threats posed by cybercriminals and nation-state actors from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

He warned that cyber attacks are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and services that ordinary Americans rely on every day, including hospitals, schools, and 911 call centers.

ALSO READ: How Fake ID-Printing Websites Are Cheating Thousands Of People, UP Police Launches Crackdown

The FBI Director urged Congress to provide funding for nearly 200 more cyber positions at the FBI, costing a little over $63 million, to help tackle the threat posed by Chinese hackers and other nation-state actors.

Wray’s testimony comes after the intelligence community’s annual threat assessment stated that China is the “most active, broadest, and persistent cyber espionage threat to US government and private-sector networks.” Officials have warned that China is capable of launching cyberattacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure services within the United States, including against oil and gas pipelines and rail systems.

ALSO READ: Job Scam: Middle East New Target Of Phishing Scams, Cyber Thugs Pose As UAE Ministry Officials

The assessment also stated that Russia will continue to use military, security, malign influence, cyber, and intelligence tools to undermine the interests of the United States and its allies. Wray warned that it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern where the nation-state threat ends and the cybercriminal threat begins, making it vital for the US to increase its cybersecurity resources and funding.

Follow The420.in on

 Telegram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube