The FBI has disrupted a KV botnet malware infection instigated by Volt Typhoon, a state sponsored threat actor affiliated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The KV botnet was first identified in December of 2023. It targeted Cisco and NetGear routers that were were no longer supported by manufacturer software updates. The court-authorized operation, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), deleted the KV botnet cyber threat from hundreds of U.S. small business information technology devices.
Botnet Used to Conceal Hacking Activities
This Volt Typhoon malware enable China to hide origins of future malicious activity on small business and home office SOHO routers. A SOHO router is a broadband device used in small offices and home offices. They use an internet service to connect with a local area network.
The botnet, which is part of a larger set of malware targeted at U.S. infrastructure, has been active since February of 2022. The FBI remotely issued commands to the routers to delete the botnet. The devices were cleared of the malware and provided temporary protection from reinfection. Devices should be updated with software patches before being rebooted. These actions were undertaken after informing owners of the infected router devices.
The operation performed was extensively tested on routers before being performed on the infected devices. The action did not effect the performance of the devices or compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of any data in those systems.
U.S. Infrastructure Being Targeted
China is targeting U.S. infrastructure with cyberattacks in a continuing effort to increase its ability to disable critical systems. These targets include facilities involved with energy, transportation and water purification. Targeted o
The effort is thought to be an attempt to disable U.S. efforts in a potential conflict between the two nations. China is positioning itself to threaten the physical safety of U.S. citizens. The FBI stated that the agency will continue to work with partners to disable PRC threats. Speaking on the incident, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland pointed out that these actions illustrate the importance of partnering with the public and the private sector to enable the dismantling of malicious cyber operations.
Chinese Espionage Effects All Sectors
As developments in the DV botnet story illustrate, China is conducting a global cyber espionage program disrupt infrastructure, and steal trade secrets, intellectual property, and sensitive information from companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. Many organizations that have suffered these data breaches, are not even aware that their computer networks have been compromised.
These attacks have exploited a wide array of vulnerabilities. Often multi-stage infection chains are used to avoid detection. Other attacks have involved more standard forms of malicious software including spear-phishing emails.
While China is not the sole nation to threaten U.S. interests with cyberattacks, its activities have, unlike others, focused on economic espionage and intellectual property theft. Clearly China intends to be a dominant economic global force by any and all means available. U.S. businesses therefore must engage in effective strategies to protect their interests and remain vigilant.
CVG Strategy Information Security Management System Consultants
An increasing number of businesses are finding that they are required to meet challenging information security levels to meet the requirements of conducting business with governmental agencies. To assist businesses to meet the challenges in adopting a variety of NIST and CMMC 2.0 requirement, CVG Strategy has developed an approach that combines the requirements of CMMC compliance with the ISO 27001 information security management system. This provides a coherent methodology for implementing and maintaining essential cybersecurity for businesses of any size.
It involves processes, facility security, people, and IT systems to engage in best practices. It also involves a constant improvement approach so that threats can be continually assessed and addressed as they evolve. This business system can help your organization remain vigilant against economic espionage and cyberattacks conducted by China and other nation states.
We can help you meet your information security management system goals. CVG Strategy QMS experts are Exemplar Global Certified Lead Auditors. We can provide the training required to understand and engage in a ISMS and make it meet desired objectives. This process includes defining the context of your organization, creation of internal auditing processes and much more.