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Lawler recounts that all systems were controlled remotely—any breach could have allowed poisoning the water supply or disrupting essential services. Fortunately, Chinese hackers were caught before they could achieve operational control, but the incident highlighted the vulnerability of even small communities.
“If they had control over our tanks or water treatment, they could poison or shut down the water supply,” Lawler emphasizes. “It’s terrifying to think this far from national military targets.”
This incident underscores a disturbing reality: no community, regardless of size or perceived importance, is safe from sophisticated cyber intrusions. It also acts as a warning that China’s cyber operations are aimed at a broad range of targets to potentially cause widespread chaos.