Chinese government-linked hackers have reportedly targeted the phone communications of former President Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance, as part of a broader cyber-espionage effort aimed at high-level US targets. This information comes from sources familiar with the matter.
Additionally, senior Biden administration officials have also been targeted by these Chinese hackers, according to one of the sources.
The Trump campaign was recently informed by US officials that Trump and Vance were among a group of individuals whose phones were targeted by the Chinese hackers. It is unclear what data, if any, the hackers were able to access. Phone communications of senior current and former US officials are often sought after by foreign spies.
The New York Times initially reported on the hacking targeting Trump and Vance's phones. This activity is part of a broader Chinese hacking campaign that has infiltrated multiple US telecommunications firms in recent months. Investigators suspect that the hackers are searching for sensitive national security information, including details on wiretap warrant requests made by the Justice Department.
However, in this particular case, there is no indication that the hackers were specifically looking for data related to US law enforcement activities concerning Trump and Vance, as per the sources.
Notable US broadband and internet providers such as AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen have also been targeted by these hackers. The Chinese government has denied these allegations.
