The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have urged telecommunication companies to boost network security following a wide-ranging Chinese hacking campaign. The campaign, known as Salt Typhoon, targeted multiple telecommunications companies and gained access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans.
The US government is still trying to determine the true scope of China’s attack and the extent to which Chinese hackers have access to US networks. However, officials say that the guidance issued on Tuesday will help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future.
The hacking campaign used metadata from telecom networks to target customers’ information, including call and text records. In some cases, hackers succeeded in retrieving actual audio files of calls and content from texts. The FBI has contacted victims who worked in government or politics, but it is up to telecom companies to notify customers included in the larger group.
The US intelligence agencies are working with their counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Britain, and China to investigate the incident. However, China has rejected accusations of cyberespionage against Americans, calling them “disinformation.” The country’s government says it opposes all kinds of cyber attacks and calls on the US to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries.
To deter future attacks, telecom companies are advised to implement encryption, centralize their networks, and consistently monitor for cyber intrusions. These measures could help disrupt the Salt Typhoon operation and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/china-hacking-salt-typhoon-trump-fbi-41ca253307e3eba2c34b3dc34dadcbeb