Cover story
A new threat to homeland security and what to do about it
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan and Naina Rao
The landscape of digital threats is ever-evolving , compounding the labyrinthian nature of the technologies that we have come to depend on . And for Guam , cybersecurity transcends domestic scope . The island is particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks by nefarious elements , considering its strategic role in homeland defense .
“ Guam is the gateway to national security . And there ’ s a lot of attention here , along with what ’ s happening with the geopolitical environment in Taiwan and China ,” Gov . Lou Leon Guerrero said .
Volt Typhoon , which attacked Guam at the height of Typhoon Mawar in May , stands out as a stark reminder of the burgeoning cyber threats . “ This advanced , persistent threat employs sophisticated tactics , techniques and procedures , including the living off the land strategy , which makes it particularly insidious ,” said Frank Lujan , the government of Guam ’ s chief technology officer .
Lujan noted that Volt Typhoon , China ’ s state-sanctioned hacker , revealed its ability to operate within existing infrastructure , hiding
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
18