White House Confirms 9th U.S. Telecom Hacked in Chinese Espionage Campaign

The White House announced on Friday that a ninth U.S. telecommunications company has been hacked as part of an ongoing Chinese espionage campaign known as “Salt Typhoon.” This operation, which has already targeted eight other telecom firms and impacted dozens of nations, is reported to have allowed Chinese officials access to private phone calls and text messages of American citizens, including prominent government officials and political figures.

Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger provided updates during a briefing, stating that the new victim was identified after the Biden administration issued guidance to help companies detect and combat Chinese hackers. The hackers infiltrated telecom networks to retrieve customer call records and intercept private communications.

While the FBI has not disclosed the identities of the victims, officials believe many of them were senior U.S. government officials or other political figures, particularly in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.Salt Typhoon has been described as a sophisticated hacking operation. Neuberger noted that the hackers were methodical in their approach, making it difficult to estimate the total number of Americans affected. However, she confirmed that the primary targets were individuals involved in government or political activities.

The attackers allegedly sought to identify device owners and monitor their communications, focusing on individuals deemed “government targets of interest.”

The Biden administration’s disclosure of this ninth breach underscores the severity of cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure. “We know that voluntary cybersecurity practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia, and Iran hacking our critical infrastructure,” Neuberger said, emphasizing the need for mandatory cybersecurity standards.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to address these concerns at a meeting next month, where potential measures to strengthen the cybersecurity of telecommunications networks will be discussed.

Neuberger also indicated that the government is preparing further actions in response to the espionage campaign but declined to provide specific details. She stated that these measures would be revealed in the coming weeks and are aimed at bolstering the security of U.S. infrastructure against similar future attacks.

The Chinese government has denied any involvement in the hacking campaign, as it has done in response to previous allegations of cyber espionage. However, U.S. officials remain confident in their attribution of the attack to Chinese state-sponsored hackers.

The breach has reignited discussions about the vulnerabilities within the telecommunications sector. The administration has stressed the importance of implementing stringent security practices to counter foreign cyber threats.

Officials argue that the current reliance on voluntary measures by private companies is insufficient to address sophisticated hacking operations like Salt Typhoon.

The hacking campaign not only raises concerns about national security but also highlights the broader implications of cyber espionage on individual privacy. The ability to access private communications and call records can have far-reaching consequences, particularly when government officials and political figures are targeted.

The Biden administration’s response to Salt Typhoon is part of a broader effort to address cyber threats from adversarial nations, including Russia and Iran. Recent years have seen an increase in state-sponsored hacking campaigns aimed at critical U.S. infrastructure, with telecommunications networks being a key target due to their role in facilitating sensitive communications.

As investigations continue, the administration is urging telecom companies to follow the guidance provided to detect and mitigate hacking attempts. The FBI and other federal agencies are working to assess the full scope of the breach and ensure that additional measures are in place to protect against future attacks.

This latest development is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for coordinated efforts between the government and private sector to safeguard critical infrastructure.

The Biden administration’s forthcoming actions will likely set a precedent for how the U.S. addresses state-sponsored cyber espionage in the future.