US intelligence agencies have confirmed that hackers affiliated with China targeted the phones used by former President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and other high-profile individuals as part of a wide-ranging intelligence-collection effort. The Verizon phone systems were infiltrated to gather communications data, including call logs, message history, and contact information.
The attack highlights the aggressiveness and scope of the hacking campaign, which has also targeted Democratic officials, staff members of Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, and prominent figures on Capitol Hill. Western cybersecurity experts believe that Salt Typhoon is behind the attack, a group known for its sophisticated tactics.
FBI and national security officials are deeply concerned about the potential extent of compromised data and the number of possible victims. The agencies have issued a joint statement attributing the hacking to actors affiliated with China and stated they are working to aggressively mitigate the threat.
The investigation is ongoing, but it remains unclear whether hackers gained access to text messages or other sensitive communications data. The attack has significant implications for national security, particularly given that intelligence agencies consider such information valuable in identifying and targeting individuals within a presidential candidate’s inner circle.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/us/politics/trump-vance-hack.html