Impolitic with John Heilemann Chris Krebs: Cyberattacks, Cyberdefenses & Trump 2.0’s Cybersurrender
Apr 11, 2025
Chris Krebs, former director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, joins the discussion to unpack the alarming rollback of national cyberdefenses under Trump 2.0. He highlights the escalating threats from Chinese and Russian hackers targeting U.S. infrastructure and elections. Krebs shares the chilling repercussions of recent budget cuts to CISA and the need for smarter cybersecurity regulations. He stresses the critical importance of a robust bipartisan approach to ensure election security in light of growing cyber threats.
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Expanding Attack Surface Explained
- Cyber threats expand as connectivity grows in homes, devices, and corporations.
- Every connected node is a potential vulnerability, increasing attack surfaces for bad actors.
China's Massive Cyber Campaign
- Chinese cyber operations employ half a million operators targeting U.S. critical infrastructure daily.
- Their focus has shifted from IP theft to positioning for destructive attacks on U.S. infrastructure.
Volt Typhoon Threat to U.S. Infrastructure
- Chinese cyber military unit Volt Typhoon targets both military and civilian U.S. infrastructure.
- Attacks aim to cause chaos, disrupt civilian life, and pressure the government through infrastructure sabotage.