Part 6/13:
Strategic Implications of Targeting Small Communities
Hawk explains that China’s focus on small, seemingly insignificant targets like Littleton isn’t accidental. These breaches serve multiple strategic purposes:
Testing defenses: Small communities help China gauge the effectiveness of their hacking techniques.
Creating distractions: A series of small attacks can contribute to a perception of widespread vulnerability, diverting U.S. resources.
Prepping for larger attacks: If access is established earlier, China can activate dormant systems during a crisis, bringing critical infrastructure under control at decisive moments.