FBI press releases or official statements

FBI Warns: Chinese 'Salt Typhoon' Hackers Infiltrate AT&T, Verizon Over Two Years

Dec 4, 2024, 11:51 AM

U.S. officials have disclosed that Chinese government hackers have infiltrated at least eight American telecommunications companies, including AT&T and Verizon, over the past two years as part of a broad and ongoing cyber espionage campaign. The hacker group, known as Salt Typhoon, has compromised telecom networks, allowing them to access sensitive data including call records and potentially intercept voice calls. High-profile government officials were among those targeted, with data on more than 1 million customers potentially stolen. Despite efforts by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to assist telecom firms, the hackers remain embedded within their networks, and officials have not provided a timeline for their removal. The campaign has also impacted dozens of other countries worldwide. In response, U.S. authorities are urging individuals to use encrypted messaging apps such as iMessage and FaceTime to protect their communications from foreign hackers.