A US state's Army National Guard network was thoroughly compromised by the Chinese cyberespionage group Salt Typhoon from March to December 2024. According to a confidential federal memo, hackers extracted highly sensitive information, including administrator credentials, network maps, and interstate communication data, raising alarm over data leaked across all 50 states and four US territories.

Security analysts caution that the breach goes beyond intelligence gathering. With access to National Guard systems, integral to state-level threat response and civilian support, the group is poised to exploit vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, particularly during crises or conflict.

Salt Typhoon, linked to China's Ministry of State Security, has a track record of penetrating telecommunications, energy grids, transport systems, and water utilities. Often leveraging known vulnerabilities in Cisco and Palo Alto equipment, the group has exfiltrated over 1,400 network configuration files from more than 70 US critical infrastructure providers.

Federal agencies, including DHS and CISA, are sounding the alarm: this deep infiltration presents a serious national security threat and indicates a strategic shift in cyber warfare. Navigating Sun Typhoon's persistent access through local and federal networks is now a top priority in defending the critical systems on which communities rely.