Intelligence Community Report Highlights Cyber Threat Posed by Foreign Adversaries

A new report from the Intelligence Community underscores the growing cyber threat posed by the U.S.’ foreign adversaries.

In its annual threat assessment report, the IC said cyber threats from nation states and their surrogates will remain acute. The intelligence agencies also noted that states’ increasing use of cyber operations as a tool of national power could foster more destructive and disruptive cyber activity, FCW reported Tuesday.

The assessment highlights cyber threats from four countries: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

The IC recognizes China as a prolific and effective cyber-espionage threat with substantial cyber-attack capabilities.

Collectively, the intelligence agencies remain on guard for the possibility of cyber attacks from China that can cause localized, temporary disruptions to critical infrastructure within the U.S.

The report also notes China’s use of surveillance systems and censorship to monitor its population and repress dissent, particularly among ethnic minorities.

Russia is expected to remain a top cyber threat as it refines and employs its espionage, influence and attack capabilities, according to the report.

Citing the SolarWinds Orion incident, which affected enterprise networks across U.S. federal, state and local governments, the IC said Russia is capable of potentially disrupting public and private organizations in the country.

Iran’s disinformation campaigns were also a focus in the report. The IC emphasized Iran’s efforts to undermine confidence in the recent U.S. election, adding that the country will likely carry on with covertly spreading false information.

Intelligence agencies are also concerned about North Korea’s ability to cause temporary, limited disruptions to some critical infrastructure networks and disrupt business networks in the U.S.

Based on its operations over the past decade, North Korea could have the potential to launch operations compromising software supply chains, the IC said.