Reports from cybersecurity agencies and international news outlets

Salt Typhoon: Chinese Hackers Infiltrate AT&T, Verizon; Americans Urged to Use Encryption

Dec 4, 2024, 09:05 PM

The U.S. government has disclosed that Chinese government-affiliated hackers have infiltrated at least eight American telecommunications companies, including AT&T and Verizon, as part of an ongoing cyber espionage campaign dubbed 'Salt Typhoon.' Senior officials from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), including Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber Anne Neuberger, briefed reporters, stating that the hackers remain present in U.S. telecom networks, allowing them to intercept voice calls and steal Americans' metadata and mobile data. The hacking campaign has also impacted dozens of nations worldwide, with U.S. officials warning that there is no timeline for securing the carriers. They are urging telecom firms to enhance their network security and recommending that Americans use encrypted messaging apps to protect their communications from foreign hackers.