New Delhi:
A group of sophisticated Chinese hackers with ties to the Chinese government has successfully infiltrated multiple U.S. telecommunications companies in the past few months, CNN reported.
US law enforcement officials believe the hackers may have accessed the wiretap warrant request, but the extent of the damage and the exact information leaked are still being investigated, CNN reported. The hackers targeted major broadband and internet providers, including key players in the U.S. telecommunications industry, such as AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen.
This newly discovered cyber espionage operation has raised serious concerns among U.S. officials about the potential national security risks posed by the hackers’ success. The breach represents a new sophisticated attack believed to be by Chinese cyber operatives and coincides with heightened tensions between the United States and China over cyber espionage and broader security issues.
The U.S. telecommunications industry forms the backbone of the country’s internet and telephone communications and is a prime target for state-sponsored hackers. Telecommunications companies hold vast amounts of caller and user data, and law enforcement agencies often seek access to specific portions of this data as part of national security investigations.
AT&T and Lumen both declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, while Verizon did not respond to multiple requests for statements from CNN. U.S. government agencies involved in the investigation, including the Justice Department and the FBI, have also remained silent, refusing to make official comments.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., denied involvement of Chinese government-backed hackers in the breach. Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu called the accusations a “distortion of facts” and accused the United States of politicizing cybersecurity issues to “smear China.”
CNN reported that the U.S. Congress has been briefed on the seriousness of the situation, and both House and Senate intelligence committees have received updates on the hacking activity. Major cybersecurity companies, including Microsoft and Mandiant, were also brought in to help investigate the attack. People close to the investigation have emphasized the tenacity and sophistication of the hacker group, known in cybersecurity circles as the Salt Typhoons.
FBI Director Christopher Wray even said that Chinese government-backed hackers far outnumber FBI cyber employees by a staggering 50 to 1.
One such group of Chinese hackers is believed to be hiding in U.S. transportation and communications networks, attempting to disrupt the U.S. response to a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan.
Another notable Chinese hacking operation occurred last year when hackers compromised the unclassified email accounts of senior US diplomats just before Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s high-profile visit to China.
