Ethical Hacking News
Nation-state hackers are increasingly targeting US critical infrastructure and supply chains, leaving experts warning of a growing threat to national security. Former US Air Force cyber officer Sarah Cleveland is sounding the alarm, urging companies to take proactive measures to secure their networks and supply chains before it's too late.
Companies should not wait for government mandates or regulations to protect themselves from nation-state hacks. The threat of nation-state hacking is real and growing, with recent high-profile attacks attributed to Chinese hackers. The attack surface has expanded due to the use of third-party vendors, contractors, and cloud service providers. Investing in tools that provide visibility and understanding of network security is crucial. Mature cybersecurity processes, including zero-trust security policies and multi-factor authentication, are essential.
Nation-state hacking has become a growing concern for supply chain security, and former US Air Force cyber officer Sarah Cleveland is sounding the alarm. In an interview with The Register, Cleveland warned that companies should not wait for government mandates or regulations to protect themselves from nation-state hacks. Instead, she advocates for proactive measures to secure their networks and supply chains.
Cleveland's concerns are well-founded, given the recent spate of high-profile attacks attributed to nation-state hackers. One such group, China's Silk Typhoon, is believed to be behind a series of intrusions into US government networks and critical infrastructure. Another group, Salt Typhoon, has been linked to break-ins at at least nine US telecommunications companies and government networks.
"These attacks are insidious because the attack surface has expanded and exploded due to the way we use third-party vendors and contractors and cloud service providers," Cleveland explained. "So if any of those external entities are compromised, it opens up so many avenues to cause significant damage downstream, with cascading effects."
Cleveland's advice for companies is clear: invest in tools that provide visibility and understanding of their network, where their data is going, and if there is infiltration. This includes solutions like network detection and response platforms, which can help identify potential threats before they escalate.
Furthermore, Cleveland emphasized the importance of having mature cybersecurity processes in place. This includes enforcing zero-trust security policies, turning on multi-factor authentication, and regularly reviewing access controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
"The most important thing is to take care of yourself and your company, your information, your data, rather than waiting for others to tell you what to do or threatening you with fines," Cleveland warned. "Companies need to be mindful of who they do business with and how they do business, because even solar panels are not immune to the risks."
Cleveland's concerns are echoed by Microsoft, which recently warned that Silk Typhoon and other Chinese government-backed groups are targeting US critical organizations. The company has also linked these attacks to a surge in supply chain vulnerabilities.
The threat of nation-state hacking is real and growing, and companies would do well to take Cleveland's advice seriously. By investing in cybersecurity solutions and processes, they can reduce their risk exposure and protect themselves from the devastating consequences of a nation-state hack.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Nation-State-Hacking-The-Looming-Threat-to-Supply-Chain-Security-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/03/24/nation_state_supply_chain_attack/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/24/nation_state_supply_chain_attack/
https://forums.theregister.com/forum/all/2025/03/24/nation_state_supply_chain_attack/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/03/05/silk-typhoon-targeting-it-supply-chain/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAFNIUM_(group)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Typhoon
https://www.armis.com/blog/breaking-down-salt-typhoon/
Published: Mon Mar 24 17:52:47 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
