The new chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, has announced that he will be establishing a security council to protect against cyberattacks, with a specific focus on “persistent and constant threat from foreign adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist party”, The Financial Times reports.
“These bad actors are always exploring ways to breach our networks, devices and technology ecosystem. It is more important than ever that the FCC remain vigilant and protect Americans and American companies from these threats,” Carr warned.
Chinese threat actors have been targeting US infrastructure, including the US Treasury, forcing the agency to declare a ‘major incident’. These attacks are looking to disrupt an already turbulent political climate in the US, and weaken critical services.
The council will have a number of goals, including ensuring that the US “wins the strategic competition with China over critical technologies” like AI, satellites, 5G, and quantum computing - as well as mitigating US vulnerabilities to nation-state threat actors and cyber espionage, and reducing foreign supply chain dependence.
Bringing the communications regulator into the FCC is part of the US government’s effort to pull resources from a range of different agencies in order to tackle the growing threat from cyber adversaries.
Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon is said to be part of the council’s focus early-on, and as the infamous group behind the Treasury hack, as well as targeting universities and telecoms networks (and more), this won’t come as much of a surprise.
This is juxtaposed by the recent news that the US is looking to pause cyber-offensive operations against Russia - despite CISA’s confirmation that defense against all cyber threats, ‘“including from Russia” will continue as normal.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking steps to enhance cybersecurity by establishing a security council focused on cyber development and defense. The new chair of the FCC, Brendan Carr, emphasized the need to protect against cyberattacks, particularly from foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist party.
Recent attacks on US infrastructure, including the US Treasury, have highlighted the importance of bolstering cybersecurity measures. The council aims to ensure that the US remains competitive in critical technologies such as AI, satellites, 5G, and quantum computing, while also addressing vulnerabilities to nation-state threat actors and cyber espionage.
The FCC's involvement in cybersecurity efforts reflects the US government's strategy to pool resources from various agencies to combat cyber threats. The council will prioritize addressing threats from groups like Salt Typhoon, known for targeting government agencies, universities, and telecom networks.
While the US is considering pausing cyber-offensive operations against Russia, defense against all cyber threats, including those from Russia, will continue as usual. This holistic approach to cybersecurity underscores the importance of safeguarding American interests and critical infrastructure from malicious actors.
