International cyber agencies urged organizations to strengthen defenses against covert networks used by China-linked hackers to hide malicious activities, according to Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance was published alongside 15 international partners from eight countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain.
These covert networks often involve everyday internet-connected devices like home routers and smart devices, which are exploited to target critical sectors, steal sensitive data, and ensure persistent access. NCSC director of operations Paul Chichester noted a shift where Chinese cyber groups are increasingly using these networks to evade accountability for their actions.
The newly issued guidance, co-authored with the U. S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlights that such attacks can be difficult to detect as evidence might vanish quickly, making it challenging to disrupt these activities. This advisory follows a warning from NCSC head Richard Horne about an expected increase in cyberattacks from nation-states, including China, Iran, and Russia. Horne mentioned that his agency was managing around four significant cyber incidents weekly, with major attacks becoming more linked to government actions rather than just criminal groups. Britain is also urging AI companies to collaborate with the government to develop AI-driven cyber defense systems for protecting critical national infrastructure.
With information from Reuters
