Chinese hackers reportedly gained unauthorized access to U.S. broadband networks, including systems used for court-authorized wiretapping, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Saturday. The intrusion targeted major telecom companies such as Verizon Communications, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies, raising serious concerns about national security.
The hackers may have maintained access for months, infiltrating infrastructure used by these companies to comply with U.S. government requests for communications data under court orders. Additionally, they accessed other internet traffic systems, the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter.
China’s foreign ministry, responding on Sunday, stated that it was unaware of the alleged attack, dismissing the claims as a “false narrative” by the United States to frame Beijing. “This erroneous approach will only hinder the international community’s efforts to address the cybersecurity challenge through dialogue and cooperation,” the ministry added in a statement to Reuters.
While Lumen Technologies declined to comment, Verizon and AT&T have yet to respond to requests for statements.
The hackers responsible for the breach are believed to belong to a Chinese hacking group aimed at intelligence gathering, dubbed “Salt Typhoon” by U.S. investigators. This follows a series of cyber espionage campaigns linked to China, including earlier disruptions of a group named “Flax Typhoon” and confrontations regarding Beijing’s involvement in a broader hacking initiative, “Volt Typhoon.”
China’s foreign ministry countered these accusations, claiming it had found evidence linking the Volt Typhoon campaign to an “international ransomware organization.”
The breach represents a significant cyber threat, highlighting ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China in the realm of cybersecurity.
07th Oct 2024
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