Last fall, I made a switch – I stopped using my cellphone for regular calls and texts, opting instead for Signal. This wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to paranoia; it was a calculated move based on my experience working at the National Security Council. We received alarming intelligence: China had infiltrated major U.S. telecommunications companies, gaining access to the data of over a million Americans, primarily in the Washington D.C. area. They could listen to calls and read texts. This sophisticated operation, attributed to a group known as Salt Typhoon, remains unresolved, with the vulnerabilities still exploited. China’s presence remains a significant threat.
This isn’t an isolated incident. For over a decade, China has been systematically accessing massive amounts of American data. Breaches of health insurance companies, hotel chains, and even sensitive security clearance information held by the Office of Personnel Management highlight the scale of this ongoing intrusion. The common response – ‘all countries spy, so what?’ – is a dangerous oversimplification.
Recent events in Ukraine and Israel starkly illustrate the devastating consequences of such deep penetration. Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, involving the ingenious use of attack drones smuggled into Russia, showcased the potential for precision strikes against critical infrastructure. Similarly, Israel’s infiltration of Hezbollah’s supply chains through a cleverly disguised pager company resulted in the neutralization of a significant portion of their leadership. Operation Rising Lion further demonstrated the potential for coordinated, devastating attacks on key Iranian targets, facilitated by covert drone infrastructure established within the country itself.
These successful operations serve as a wake-up call. The seemingly invisible threat of data breaches and network infiltration can translate into devastating real-world consequences. The ease with which foreign actors can leverage compromised systems for targeted attacks underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and a renewed focus on national security. The silent invasion is underway, and we need to act decisively to protect ourselves.
