Australia’s top intelligence agency has issued a stark warning that Chinese state-backed hackers may be attempting to infiltrate the nation’s critical infrastructure systems, raising fears of potential large-scale disruption.
Speaking at a business forum in Melbourne on Wednesday (12th), Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said two Chinese-linked cyber units, known as “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon,” have already penetrated networks in the United States and could pose a similar threat to Australia. Burgess described these groups as operating on behalf of the Chinese government and military, capable of both espionage and sabotage.
According to Burgess, Salt Typhoon primarily focuses on telecommunications espionage, aiming to access and monitor communications data, while Volt Typhoon has targeted critical infrastructure networks to position itself for potential disruptive operations. “Once these systems are infiltrated,” he warned, “the damage depends not on their capability but on their intent — and we may not yet fully grasp how devastating such attacks could be.”
He noted that other Western nations’ critical infrastructure — including transport, water, and energy systems — face similar risks. The U.S., for example, suffered what Burgess called “one of the most severe cyber incidents in its history” last year, when Salt Typhoon breached multiple telecom firms and accessed data linked to senior political figures.
Burgess also disclosed previously unreported cases of economic espionage involving hackers stealing sensitive trade data from Australian exporters and replicating innovative technologies, causing major financial losses. In another case, a visiting academic allegedly tied to a foreign government gained unauthorized access to a restricted tech laboratory and took photos of classified materials.
Beyond cyber threats, Burgess said rapid technological advances are heightening national security risks while extremist and anarchist activities continue to endanger industries. He cited recent anti-Israel activists who have targeted weapons component companies with arson and vandalism.
Burgess urged both the private sector and the public to stay vigilant, strengthen cyber defenses, and take the growing transnational cyber threat seriously. “Australia must not underestimate the scale or sophistication of these risks,” he said.