Chinese Hackers Breach U.S. Telecom Networks in Largest Espionage Campaign to Date

Salt Typhoon, a Chinese-linked group, has accessed private communications and metadata from major telecom companies, targeting government and political figures.

• At least eight U.S. telecom companies, including AT&T and Verizon, have been compromised in a Chinese cyber espionage campaign dating back to 2022.
• Hackers accessed customer metadata and, in some cases, actual phone call audio and text message content, focusing on individuals in government and politics.
• The breaches exploited vulnerabilities in telecom systems, including back doors originally designed for lawful government surveillance under U.S. law.
• The FBI and CISA are urging Americans to adopt end-to-end encrypted communication tools like Signal and WhatsApp for enhanced security.
• Officials describe the attack as the most significant telecom hack in U.S. history, with investigations ongoing to determine the full extent of the breach.

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