Official U.S. government announcements or press releases

Ninth U.S. Telecom Firm Hacked in Salt Typhoon Chinese Espionage Campaign, Less Than 100 Impacted, White House Confirms

Dec 27, 2024, 11:30 PM

The White House has confirmed that a ninth U.S. telecommunications firm has been hacked as part of a broad Chinese espionage campaign known as 'Salt Typhoon.' This campaign has allowed Chinese officials access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, with a focus on individuals involved in government and political activities. The White House has also indicated that the hacking incidents are partly attributed to the failure of telecom companies to implement basic cybersecurity measures. In response, the administration is planning further actions to enhance cybersecurity and has issued a threat-hunting and hardening guide to telecommunications companies to mitigate future risks. The number of individuals directly impacted by the breaches is reported to be less than 100.