Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, disclosed on Friday that Salt Typhoon, a group of Chinese state-sponsored hackers, had gained access to all of the major U.S. telecom firms, enabling them to track the calls and texts of millions of Americans. Rounds said during his speech at Halifax The Forum that despite federal engagement, these hackers, who are associated with the Chinese Communist regime, are still present in American telecom networks.
Important points:
- Salt Typhoon has breached telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, accessing law enforcement wiretap logs and enabling real-time eavesdropping.
- The breach, described as the worst telecom hack in U.S. history by Sen. Mark Warner, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been ongoing for over a year.
- Officials warn a massive overhaul of U.S. telecom infrastructure is needed to expel the hackers, who exploited outdated equipment and network trust protocols.
Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds warned Friday that China s state-sponsored hackers, known as Salt Typhoon, have gained the capability to spy on millions of Americans through their mobile phones.
Rounds disclosed that hackers have compromised every significant U.S. telecoms company during an event at the Halifax Forum. According to reports, these hackers have gained access to all of the nation’s main telecom providers. He added that the Communist regime in China has the ability to read texts and hear conversations.
Any and all conversations you have on your cell phone with anyone in America today could be reviewed by the Chinese Communist regime. because all of our big telecommunications firms are within their reach. They have intruded. According to Rounds, they have the ability to read your texts and listen in on your discussions. All that matters is who they choose to listen to and who they choose not to.
Salt Typhoon, identified as aChinese hacking group, has infiltrated the networks of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and their presence lingers, according to Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, The Washington Postreported. Warner described the hack as by far the worst telecom hack in the history of our country.
Thebreach, ongoing for over a year, affects telecom giants such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Although the wiretap system itself is still intact, WaPo claimed that hackers even gained access to law enforcement wiretap request logs, which exposed investigative targets. The breach reportedly targeted communications involving former President Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and White House officials.
Despite intervention from the FBI, thehackersremain embedded in the U.S. telecom infrastructure, according to WaPo. Warner explained that expelling them will require a massive overhaul, including the physical replacement of thousands of routers and switches across affected networks.
This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate telecom systems around the world, to exfiltrate huge amounts of data, Warner said.
The group exploited outdated infrastructure and inter-network trust, enabling real-time eavesdropping and data exfiltration, the outlet reported. While fewer than 150 individuals were directly targeted, the scope of compromised data extends to millions of associated contacts.
The Biden administration urges stricter cybersecurity measures to counter persistent Chinese aggression.
We must lock our digital doors, Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger said.
National security officials, including Trump appointees, vow heightened focus on combating cyber threats.
(Featured Image Media Credit:Screenshot/YouTube/HalifaxtheForum)
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