GOP Senator Marco Rubio took to social media to caution about the recent AT&T outage affecting numerous Americans, highlighting its potential insignificance compared to a prospective cyber assault from China.
Rubio, expressing uncertainty about the cause of the AT&T disruption, stressed the potential severity of a Chinese cyberattack, particularly in conjunction with a hypothetical invasion of Taiwan. He emphasized that such an attack wouldn’t solely target cellular services but could extend to critical infrastructure like power, water, and banking systems, Fox News Digital reports.
The AT&T outages began around 3:30 a.m. ET, with most users experiencing problems primarily with mobile phone services. AT&T acknowledged the interruptions and assured customers of urgent efforts to restore services while recommending the use of Wi-Fi calling as a temporary solution. By 9:30 a.m. ET, over 74,000 AT&T users had reported outages, according to Downdetector.
Rubio’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over Chinese cyber activities, with FBI Director Christopher Wray recently describing China’s cyberattacks as escalating to a “fever pitch.” Wray cautioned about potential infiltration of critical infrastructure by Chinese-sponsored hackers, dating back to at least 2011, with a current focus on offensive capabilities within vital sectors such as oil, natural gas, and telecommunications. He highlighted the strategic positioning of these cyber weapons, suggesting China’s readiness to deploy them when deemed necessary.
“You might find your companies harassed and hacked, targeted by a web of corporate CCP proxies,” Wray said in Germany. “You might also find PRC [People’s Republic of China] hackers lurking in your power stations, your phone companies and other infrastructure, poised to take them down when they decide you stepped too far out of line, and that hurting your civilian population suits the CCP.”
“China-sponsored hackers pre-positioned for potential cyberattacks against U.S. oil and natural gas companies way back in 2011, but these days, it’s reached something closer to a fever pitch,” he continued. “What we’re seeing now is China’s increasing build-out of offensive weapons within our critical infrastructure, poised to attack whenever Beijing decides the time is right.”
The senator’s remarks underscore a broader apprehension within the U.S. government regarding the growing cyber threat posed by China and the potential implications for national security and everyday life. The AT&T outage serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of telecommunications infrastructure, raising concerns about the potential magnitude of disruption in the event of a large-scale cyberattack.
