The US government has confirmed that a Chinese espionage campaign has stolen data from thousands of American mobile phone users, with sources estimating that up to 1 million customers were targeted. The hacking operation, which began at least a year ago and went undetected for months, exploited weaknesses in the communications networks of top telecommunications companies.
FBI and Homeland Security officials briefed on the operation confirmed that Chinese hackers stole a “large amount” of data from US mobile phone users, including information about their conversations, locations, and contacts. The hackers were able to narrow their focus and target specific high-profile Americans, including some top government officials in the Biden administration.
Sources revealed that at least one cabinet secretary and a top White House Homeland Security Adviser were among those targeted. Other notable figures who were allegedly targeted include President-elect Donald Trump’s staff and leaders from both political campaigns.
The investigation has shown that China compromised US computer routers serving telecom corporations, gaining access to significant numbers of customer phone numbers. The hackers also obtained sensitive data about ongoing warrants pursued by the Department of Justice, sparking fears that they could be used to identify individuals under investigation.
To combat the ongoing attacks, federal authorities have provided industry leaders with a list of remedies to detect and prevent future breaches. The US government is working to root out the hackers and protect its citizens’ personal data.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/chinese-espionage-campaign-scooped-data-thousands-us-mobile/story?id=116439853