Overview

• A ninth U.S. telecom company has been identified as a victim of the Chinese-linked hacking group Salt Typhoon, which has been active since at least 2019.
• The hackers targeted government officials and political figures, gaining access to sensitive data, including call records, geolocation, and private communications.
• Federal officials, including Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger, emphasize the inadequacy of voluntary cybersecurity practices and push for mandatory regulations.
• The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on new cybersecurity rules for telecom providers by January 15, aiming to strengthen defenses against future attacks.
• The Biden administration has also proposed stricter healthcare data protections and guidance for telecom companies to detect and mitigate cyber threats.