White House says 9th telecoms company has been hacked as part of Chinese espionage campaign
The White House announced on Friday that a ninth U.S. telecommunications company has fallen victim to a Chinese espionage campaign, granting Chinese officials access to private texts and phone conversations of Americans. This revelation comes after the Biden administration disclosed earlier in the month that at least eight telecommunications companies and several nations had been affected by the Chinese hacking operation dubbed Salt Typhoon.
Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger informed reporters on Friday that a ninth victim had been identified following the release of guidance to companies on how to detect Chinese hackers in their networks. The hackers infiltrated the networks of telecommunications companies to gather customer call records and intercept the private communications of a select group of individuals.
Although the FBI has not publicly named any of the victims, officials suspect that senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose communications were compromised. Neuberger stated that the exact number of Americans targeted by Salt Typhoon is still unknown due to the sophisticated methods employed by the hackers. However, she did mention that a significant portion of the victims were located in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
Officials believe that the hackers aimed to identify the owners of devices and eavesdrop on their texts and phone calls if they were deemed “government targets of interest.” Most of the victims are believed to be individuals involved in government or political activities, according to the FBI.
The hacking incident underscores the necessity for mandatory cybersecurity measures in the telecommunications sector, which the Federal Communications Commission is poised to address at an upcoming meeting. Neuberger hinted at additional government actions in response to the hacking campaign in the coming weeks but refrained from providing specifics.
The Chinese government has denied any involvement in the hacking campaign. Neuberger emphasized the inadequacy of voluntary cybersecurity practices in safeguarding against hacking attempts from China, Russia, and Iran on critical infrastructure.
In conclusion, the threat posed by cyber espionage is a pressing concern that necessitates robust cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive communications and data. The government’s response to the hacking campaign underscores the importance of vigilance and preparedness in the face of evolving cyber threats.
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