Hackers associated with the Chinese Government have repeatedly infiltrated the computer systems of US airlines, technology companies and other contractors involved in the movement of US troops and military equipment.
According to a US Senate Armed Services Committee’s year-long probe, the military’s US Transportation Command, or Transcom, was aware of only two out of at least 20 such cyber intrusions within a single year. The investigation also found gaps in reporting requirements and a lack of information sharing among US government entities. That in turn left the US military largely unaware of computer compromises of its contractors.
The investigation focused on the US military’s ability to seamlessly tap civilian air, shipping and other transportation assets for tasks including troop deployments and the timely arrival of supplies from food to ammunition to fuel.
