Rubio Warns of Devastating Chinese Cyberattack Surpassing AT&T Outage

Clear Facts

• Senator Marco Rubio has warned that a potential cyberattack from China could be significantly more devastating than the recent AT&T outage.
• AT&T experienced a significant outage that affected tens of thousands of customers, disrupting home phone, internet, and mobile phone services.
• FBI Director Christopher Wray has previously warned that China’s cyberattacks against the U.S. and its allies are escalating, with hackers potentially positioned within critical infrastructure.

Senator Marco Rubio of the GOP has issued a stark warning regarding the potential for a cyberattack from China. He suggests that such an attack could dwarf the recent AT&T outage in terms of its impact.

“I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage,” Rubio stated on social media. “But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion.”

He continued, “And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank.”

This warning came amidst a significant AT&T outage that affected tens of thousands of customers. The disruption impacted home phone, internet, and mobile phone services, according to reports from Downdetector.

“CHINESE HACKERS HAD ACCESS TO US INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ‘AT LEAST 5 YEARS’ BEFORE DISCOVERY”

The outages began in the early morning hours, with the majority of users reporting issues with mobile phone service. More than a third of those affected reported a complete loss of signal, while 8% reported issues with mobile internet.

“Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning,” AT&T informed FOX Business. “We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored.”

By mid-morning, over 74,000 AT&T users had reported outages to Downdetector.

Earlier this month, FBI Director Christopher Wray also warned of the escalating threat of Chinese cyberattacks.

“You might find your companies harassed and hacked, targeted by a web of corporate CCP proxies,” Wray cautioned leaders in Germany. “You might also find PRC [People’s Republic of China] hackers lurking in your power stations, your phone companies and other infrastructure, poised to take them down when they decide you stepped too far out of line, and that hurting your civilian population suits the CCP.”

He continued, “China-sponsored hackers pre-positioned for potential cyberattacks against U. S. oil and natural gas companies way back in 2011, but these days, it’s reached something closer to a fever pitch. What we’re seeing now is China’s increasing build-out of offensive weapons within our critical infrastructure, poised to attack whenever Beijing decides the time is right.”

Clear Thoughts (op-ed)

Senator Marco Rubio’s warning about China’s potential cyberattack should be taken seriously by every American. The recent AT&T outage serves as a stark reminder that our infrastructure is vulnerable to disruptions that can have significant consequences.

The FBI Director’s confirmation of China’s escalating cyberattacks against the U.S. and its allies is alarming and highlights the urgent need for a robust cybersecurity strategy. Our critical infrastructure, including power, water, and banking systems, must be safeguarded against potential attacks.

We cannot afford to be complacent in the face of such threats. It is time for our leaders to take decisive action to protect our digital infrastructure and ensure the safety of our citizens. Failure to do so could result in consequences far more devastating than the AT&T outage. The stakes are simply too high to ignore.

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