A massive cyberattack linked to Chinese hackers has compromised the U.S. government’s surveillance database, exposing millions of Americans’ communications. The group, dubbed “Salt Typhoon,” reportedly infiltrated a system that archives law enforcement wiretap requests.
The breach, described as the worst telecom hack in U.S. history, allowed hackers to access unencrypted call and text data. While the wiretapping system itself was not compromised, experts warn that the exposed data could lead to targeted espionage.
1/ A "Salt Typhoon" hack shows why backdoors are a gift to China. It's been widely reported that the breach of US telecom systems allowed Chinese hacker group to listen in on the conversations of national security officials and political figures incl. @realDonaldTrump @JDVance. pic.twitter.com/iHpNbbr6H4
— Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability (@savingprivacy) November 25, 2024
Officials call China's cyberattack 'worst telecom hack' in US history | CNN#espionage #surveillance #spying #politics #China #technology #telecommunications #hacking #politicshttps://t.co/wSCXiQzfcH via @YouTube
— 0ok (@0ok) November 25, 2024
Telecom companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon reported the breach to federal authorities in September. The hack has been attributed to the Chinese Communist Party, though Beijing denies involvement.
“This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate global telecom networks,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). He emphasized that the scale of the breach surpasses previous cyberattacks in severity.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency are warning that unencrypted texts between Android and iPhones could pose a serious risk following the Salt Typhoon hack of several US telecommunication providers. https://t.co/XUw0HtDiwI pic.twitter.com/2dmCZenglt
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 8, 2024
White House – The U.S. believes that an alleged sweeping Chinese cyber espionage campaign known as Salt Typhoon targeted and recorded telephone calls of "very senior" American political figures
Anne Neuberger, US deputy national security adviser👇https://t.co/dgeGMHl1KC— Lilian Armstrong (@LilianArm99) December 8, 2024
High-profile individuals, including President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, were reportedly among those affected. The FBI and CISA have confirmed the identity of the perpetrators but declined to release further details.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of U.S. telecom systems and raises concerns about the potential for foreign adversaries to exploit critical infrastructure. Calls for stronger cybersecurity measures are mounting as Washington assesses the fallout.
