China hacks our telecom carriers – Government says do this

Leave a CommentChina hacks our telecom carriers – Government says do thisComms, News, Technology

Amid an unprecedented cyberattack on telecommunications companies such as AT&T and Verizon, U.S. officials have recommended that Americans use encrypted messaging apps to ensure their communications stay hidden from foreign hackers.

The cyberattack on major U.S. telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon has now been attributed to a group known as Salt Typhoon, has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in telecom security infrastructure.

This group, which is linked to Chinese state-sponsored activities, reportedly accessed systems integral to the operation of these companies, including those used for government wiretapping requests under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). The hackers allegedly exploited these breaches to monitor or intercept personal, commercial and government communications.

The recommendation by U.S. officials to use encrypted messaging platforms such as Signal or WhatsApp reflects a desperate and laughable response to the immediate threat. While these apps employ end-to-end encryption, which theoretically prevents third parties, including hackers, from accessing message content, this advice underscores the limited options available for protecting our communications and the hopelessness of the government.

Our network cybersecurity is nil! Users have been left to navigate a landscape where even the infrastructure of major telecom providers isn’t immune to sophisticated cyber espionage.