Episode 798: China’s Cyber Espionage

Newt's World

Gingrich 360

News, Politics

4.7 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Newt talks with Dr. Weifeng Zhong, about the significant cybersecurity breach involving the US Treasury Department, where a hacker accessed security keys to override protocols and access unclassified documents. The US Treasury has since placed sanctions on a Beijing-based cybersecurity company for its alleged involvement in multiple hacking incidents targeting critical US infrastructure. Dr. Zhong provides insights into the broader implications of Chinese state-sponsored hacking activities, including the notorious Salt Typhoon group, which has infiltrated major US telecommunications companies. They discuss the historical context of Chinese cyber espionage, the sophisticated methods employed, and the challenges in countering these threats. Additionally, their discussion touches on the controversial role of TikTok in data collection and propaganda, and the strategic considerations for the US in addressing these multifaceted cyber threats.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Newt Gingrich. Please watch Journey to America, my new documentary on PBS, about nine remarkable individuals who strengthened our country through their pursuit of the American dream.
0:09.9	From Albert Einstein to Hedy Lamar to Zalma Khalilazade, we explore how individual stories help shape our national identity.
0:18.1	Watch Journey to America, premiering Tuesday, January 14th at 10 p.m. Eastern,
0:23.1	9 p.m. Central on PBS and the PBS app.
0:30.9	On this episode of Nutsworld, on December 8, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department was notified by a third-party software provider
0:39.8	beyond trust, that a hacker had gained access to a security key, which allowed the intruder
0:46.0	to override certain security protocols and access some Treasury Department office workstations
0:52.1	and unclassified documents stored on them,
0:54.9	according to the letter notifying the Senate Banking Committee of the breach.
0:59.3	On Friday, January 3rd, the U.S. Treasury placed sanctions on Beijing-based cybersecurity
1:04.7	company for its alleged role in multiple hacking incidents targeting critical U.S. infrastructure.
1:11.9	Here to discuss the latest Chinese hacking incidents and what it means in the larger picture.
1:18.0	I'm really pleased to welcome back my guest, Dr. Weifong Zong, Senior Advisor for the Office
1:24.2	for Fiscal and Regulatory Analysis at the America First Policy Institute,
1:28.3	he is a co-creator of the Policy Change Index, an open-source project that uses AI you so much for joining me once again on Newsworld.
1:53.9	Thank you very much for having me, Mr. Speaker.
1:56.7	Now, before we talk about the Treasury Department hack, I want to go back and start with
2:01.7	Salt Typhoon.
2:03.8	What is Salt Typhoon, and what are they been accused of doing?
2:08.0	So Salt Typhoon, which may or may not be directly related to the sanctions that was announced
2:14.0	this time, was one of the many state sponsor hacking attacks
2:18.7	led by Chinese hackers and fundamentally sponsored and supported by the Chinese regime.
	...

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