China-linked botnets weaponize everyday devices to hit Western networks

Western intelligence agencies warn China is expanding covert cyber operations by turning tens of thousands of internet‑of‑things devices—such as home routers and smart fridges—into botnets to mount scalable, harder-to-detect attacks on critical infrastructure, with cyber units Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon and Violet Typhoon linked to targeting US, Taiwan and European networks and potentially aiming to fatally compromise military and civilian systems in a crisis.