The United States has become far less safe under Joe Biden’s leadership. Now things are all coming to a head.
As countless Americans along with Donald Trump have been targeted bu this dangerous foreign adversary.
China-Linked Hackers Breach US Telecom Systems, Exposing Over 1 Million Americans
In a stunning revelation, China-linked hackers reportedly infiltrated a U.S. telecommunications surveillance system for 18 months, accessing sensitive data from over one million individuals. The full scope of their activities remains unclear, raising alarms among cybersecurity experts and national security officials.
The breach, beginning in mid-2023, was orchestrated by a hacking group known as Salt Typhoon, which is tied to Chinese intelligence. According to The Wall Street Journal, the hackers targeted major telecom providers like Verizon and AT&T, as well as systems used for court-authorized surveillance. These systems reportedly included individuals suspected by the U.S. government of being agents for China.
The hackers infiltrated one telecom network for 18 months and another for six months. During this time, they focused on calls and phone lines connected to high-profile figures, including President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Vice President Kamala Harris, along with individuals in their circles. Their primary target was Washington, D.C., where they managed to collect a trove of IP addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive data from over one million individuals.
“This was the worst telecom hack in our nation’s history — by far,” an unnamed senator told The Washington Post.
A Persistent Threat
After the intrusion was discovered, the hackers adapted their methods, making detection and elimination increasingly difficult. By October 2024, even after the breach was publicly acknowledged, some hackers reportedly remained embedded in wiretap systems. During their time in these networks, they impersonated systems engineers and masked their activities to avoid detection.
Authorities eventually tracked the stolen data being transmitted globally before it ended up in China. “We saw a massive set of data acquired,” an FBI official told The Wall Street Journal.
Denials and Responses
China has denied involvement in the attacks. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, dismissed the allegations, claiming the U.S. was “enthusiastic about creating various types of ‘typhoons.’” Liu added, “The US needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cybersecurity to smear and slander China.”
Telecom giants Verizon and AT&T have responded to the allegations. Verizon stated that it “has contained the activities associated with this particular incident,” while AT&T claimed there was no evidence to suggest foreign actors had compromised its network. However, national security experts remain skeptical, with some warning that the breach’s complexity makes it uncertain whether all hackers have been expelled.
Evolving Strategies and Looming Threats
In response to these cyber intrusions, U.S. officials have begun shifting from traditional calls and texts to encrypted communication platforms like Signal. The hackers reportedly exploited vulnerabilities in outdated U.S. telecom equipment to bypass defenses.
“It’s shocking how exposed we are, and still are,” Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) remarked during a Senate hearing, calling a briefing on the attack “breathtaking.”
A Broader Pattern
The breach aligns with an emerging pattern in Chinese cyber activities, which appear to be shifting from economic espionage to geopolitical sabotage. In late 2023, U.S. officials scrambled to counter a Chinese-backed cyberattack on critical infrastructure, including power grids and ports. Although some malicious software was neutralized, the incidents highlight the growing sophistication and ambition of China’s cyber operations.
The Treasury Department recently informed Congress of another breach by a Chinese state-backed actor, which accessed “unclassified” documents. These attacks signal an alarming shift in strategy by the Chinese Communist Party, as it leverages cyberwarfare to gain geopolitical advantages.
As the U.S. grapples with these unprecedented cyber threats, experts warn that aging infrastructure and insufficient defenses leave the nation vulnerable to further attacks.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
