A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign, according to a top White House official. This hacking operation, known as Salt Typhoon, granted officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. The Biden administration revealed that at least eight telecommunications companies and numerous nations were affected by this Chinese hacking blitz.
Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger disclosed the identification of a ninth victim after the administration issued guidance to companies on how to detect Chinese culprits in their networks. This revelation is the latest development in a significant hacking operation that has raised concerns among national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector, and showcased China's hacking capabilities.
The hackers infiltrated the networks of telecommunications companies to acquire customer call records and intercept private communications of a limited number of individuals, including senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures. While the exact number of affected Americans remains unclear, Neuberger mentioned that a 'large number' were located in the Washington-Virginia area.
Officials believe the hackers' objective was to identify phone owners and, if they were 'government targets of interest,' monitor their texts and phone calls. The FBI indicated that the majority of individuals targeted by the hackers are primarily involved in government or political activities.
Neuberger emphasized the necessity for mandatory cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, a matter the Federal Communications Commission plans to address in an upcoming meeting. She also mentioned that the government is preparing additional responses in the following weeks to counter the hacking campaign, although specific actions were not disclosed.
Highlighting the inadequacy of voluntary cybersecurity measures against hacking threats from China, Russia, and Iran, Neuberger stressed the importance of enhanced security protocols to safeguard critical infrastructure. Despite the denial of responsibility by the Chinese government, the implications of this espionage campaign continue to reverberate across the cybersecurity landscape.
