CISA Director Highlights US Efforts to Protect Against Chinese Cyber Threats
In a detailed testimony to Congress on May 8, the acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), stated the agency’s ongoing efforts to bolster defenses against cyberattacks originating from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) targeted at the United States. The director underscored the importance of safeguarding U.S. infrastructure amidst increasing cyber threats.
CISA is actively assisting companies in developing mitigation strategies to combat threats posed by Chinese cyber activities. “The more we can make it hard for them to get into our critical infrastructure, the better it is,” Bean emphasized in response to an inquiry by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) concerning the country’s preparedness to defend its infrastructure from infiltration by the Chinese regime.
One of the primary capabilities highlighted by Bean is CISA’s “attack surface management program.” Through this initiative, the agency identifies prevalent hacking techniques and then advises private enterprises on implementing necessary “software patches” to shield against such vulnerabilities. “The attack search management is not only one of our most scalable and cost-effective tools but also the most effective in identifying vulnerabilities and providing means for entities to address and mitigate those challenges,” Bean stated, in response to questions from Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa).
Moreover, Bean discussed CISA’s advocacy against the use of TikTok, the widely used social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The platform is subject to Chinese national security mandates, which obligate companies to share any data with the Chinese government upon request.
“China is the most prolific, dominant threat we have. They are [hacking us] for three reasons: espionage, theft of intellectual property, and infiltration of our critical infrastructure,” Bean explained. The goal of these cyber activities extends beyond mere data collection. “They are waiting to disrupt or destroy our critical infrastructure at the time and place of their choosing. They want to discourage us should there be a conflict with China over Taiwan,” she added.
This testimony highlights CISA’s proactive role in countering cyber threats and protecting the United States’ national security interests. The agency’s continuous efforts to advise and equip companies with advanced defensive measures are pivotal in fortifying the nation’s defenses against persistent cyber threats from state-sponsored activities.
The engagement with lawmakers stressed the seriousness of the threats and reflected on the necessity for continuous vigilance and enhancement of the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure. These efforts are critical as cyber threats continue to evolve, and CISA remains committed to its mission of reducing the risks posed by state-sponsored cyber activities.
