Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, stated that the US has noticed a rise in cybersecurity threats both domestically and beyond Asia and is issuing a warning against activities emanating from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.

Mr. Mayorkas said on Wednesday while visiting Singapore: "Malicious conduct from the People’s Republic of China is a real and present threat, not just for the United States but for other countries as well. That's why I've gone such a distance here."

His comments come at a time when tensions between the US and China have risen over a number of topics, including trade, human rights, and Taiwan's status. The US government has long claimed that China engages in extensive hacking activities, and it has frequently cautioned other countries about security lapses caused by the usage of Chinese-controlled mobile networks and Internet infrastructure.

Beijing consistently refutes the charges, claiming that it is a victim of cyberattacks and calling the US the "empire of hacking" in response

Mayorkas claimed that China had recently increased its global sales of telco technology by being "very, very aggressive." We feel bound to warn our close partners and allies about the dangers of permitting that to happen, he continued.

The US has made a concerted effort to fend against hacking attacks, which have been successful against everything from gas pipelines and meat factories to schools and hospitals. State and local governments were urged to submit applications last month by the Biden administration for new cybersecurity awards worth $1 billion over four years.

The US government has taken a number of steps to try and stop the barrage of attacks, such as charging hackers, pursuing organizations that are thought to help launder illegal funds, and requiring software companies that do business with the government to certify that they adhere to new cyber standards.

Tuesday night in Singapore, Mayorkas cautioned that "enemy states," such as Russia and China, had only advanced, increasing the likelihood of negative outcomes. He was speaking at a forum on cyber concerns. Everyone in this room is at risk for both economic and national security because of these cyber operations, he declared.

Sources