Microsoft has warned that a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group has compromised “critical” infrastructure in the US in order to disrupt communications between the country and Asia in the event of a crisis.

In a rare announcement about a systems breach, the US technology group said the hackers, codenamed “Volt Typhoon”, have operated since mid-2021. They have been able to infiltrate organisations across industries by exploiting vulnerabilities in a popular cyber security platform called FortiGuard, Microsoft said.

“In this campaign, the affected organisations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors,” Microsoft said. It added that the hacking group’s actions had focused on gathering intelligence and espionage, rather than causing immediate disruption.