In a sweeping cyberattack, Chinese hackers infiltrated U.S. telecommunications networks, gaining access to millions of Americans’ cell phone records and the ability to record phone calls at will.
The group, known as Salt Typhoon, targeted U.S. telecommunication providers, using their access to spy on senior political figures and conduct large-scale surveillance.
According to Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, the hackers were able to geolocate millions of individuals and listen in on calls.
Among the victims were high-profile political figures such as President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and senior Biden administration officials.
The hacking group was first detected earlier this year, with the FBI launching an investigation after the breach was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Neuberger confirmed that nine U.S. telecommunications providers were affected, including major companies like Lumen Technologies, AT&T, and Verizon.
Despite efforts to remove the hackers, some providers, such as Lumen and AT&T, have disputed claims that they have fully expelled the intruders.
Once inside the telecom networks, the hackers had full access to sensitive data, enabling them to track the locations of individuals and record phone conversations.
Investigators believe that the goal was to identify government targets and conduct follow-on espionage.
While the exact scale of the breach remains unclear, Neuberger noted that less than 100 individuals were specifically targeted for their communications.
Efforts are now focused on strengthening cybersecurity practices within U.S. telecoms and holding China accountable for its actions.
In response, Neuberger has called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement mandatory cybersecurity practices for telecom companies, as voluntary measures have proven insufficient to prevent large-scale cyberattacks like this one.
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