The US government is urging a crackdown on telecom companies to improve cybersecurity measures after nine US providers were breached in a massive Chinese hacking campaign targeting senior officials. The Biden administration’s deputy national security advisor, Anne Neuberger, says voluntary compliance with cybersecurity practices is insufficient to protect against foreign hackers.
Neuberger called for stricter regulations that would make it harder and more expensive for hackers to access Americans’ data. She cited the Salt Typhoon hack, which affected an unknown number of people, as a reason for increased action. The White House claims Chinese hackers used advanced techniques, including erasing logs, to cover their tracks.
While the exact scope of the hacking campaign is unclear, authorities believe Chinese hackers had access to millions of individuals’ data and could geolocate them at will. Australia and the UK have already implemented stricter requirements, which may have led to the discovery and containment of the hack faster. The proposal for new regulations will be voted on by the FCC by January 15.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/12/27/salt-typhoon-crackdown-fcc-spy-hack/77259494007