A Chinese hacking group has infiltrated a U.S. surveillance tool, compromising millions of Americans’ call and text records. The breach, orchestrated by a group known as “Salt Typhoon,” has been labeled the most significant telecom hack in U.S. history.
The hackers reportedly accessed a database of wiretap requests used by law enforcement. While fewer than 150 individuals were directly targeted, the breach exposed unencrypted communications that could affect millions.
https://x.com/savingprivacy/status/1861107339593453652
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
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon were among the telecom companies impacted. The breach, discovered in September, exploited connections between telecom networks to gain access to live call monitoring systems.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) called the breach part of China’s ongoing efforts to infiltrate global telecom infrastructure. He warned that such incidents pose significant national security risks and emphasized the need for stronger cybersecurity measures.
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
Notable figures, including President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and members of Kamala Harris’ campaign, were reportedly affected. Federal agencies, including the FBI and CISA, are investigating the breach but have disclosed few details.
While China denies involvement, the attack underscores the vulnerabilities of U.S. surveillance systems. Experts are calling for immediate reforms to safeguard sensitive infrastructure and protect private communications.
