How China Hacked America’s Phone Network

The "Salt Typhoon" hack represents a complex and extensive intrusion into U.S. telecommunication networks by Chinese hackers associated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

The "Salt Typhoon" hack was a sophisticated and widespread breach of U.S. telecommunication systems orchestrated by hackers working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security.

The hackers were able to infiltrate the core infrastructure that binds the United States together, gaining access to a vast array of communication channels and sensitive information.

Described as a hack of America's telecommunication systems, "Salt Typhoon" compromised major telecom companies such as AT&T and Verizon, as well as a multitude of smaller communication providers. The telecom companies remained clueless for a year, and perhaps two, that Chinese hackers had breached their networks. Alarmingly, for certain parts of their systems, they never had any detection mechanisms in place.

The Chinese hackers evaded detection for over a year, compromising the security of major telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon, as well as smaller communication providers.

The scale of the breach went unnoticed until Microsoft researchers alerted the telecom companies, marking the first time they became aware of the exploit.

The hack allowed the Chinese hackers to monitor communications of high-profile U.S. officials, including the President-elect and Vice President-elect, and intercept unencrypted text messages.

The hackers could read open, unencrypted text messages sent between devices on different platforms, such as from an iPhone to an Android.

David Sanger reveals that the breach was not only extensive but also allowed for significant espionage capabilities. The American investigators discovered tha ...

The "Salt Typhoon" hack represents a serious breach of U.S. national security, drawing significant concern from top government officials and prompting urgent defensive measures.

U.S. officials deeply alarmed by the "Salt Typhoon" hack

Senator Mark Warner, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has described the "Salt Typhoon" hack as the worst intrusion into the United States he has ever seen in his career. The implications of the hack have set off alarms among the nation's top security advisers and legislatures.

In light of the breach, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan took the initiative to organize a meeting in the Situation Room with chief executive officers from each of the major telecommunications companies. During this emergency gathering, the CEOs were informed of the critical need to both expel the Chinese hackers from their systems and to rebuild their infrastructure in such a manner as to prevent future incursions.

Compromised U.S. surveillance and counterintelligence

The severity of the hack extends to the compromised integrity of U.S. government operations, particularly in the areas of lawful surve ...

David Sanger details the strategic advancements in China's cyber capabilities, particularly under President Xi Jinping's leadership, reflecting the country's broader objectives to compete as a global superpower, especially in the realm of surveillance and cyber operations.

Over the past decade, China has made significant investments and improvements in its cyber capabilities, transitioning from a relatively clumsy hacking operation to a sophisticated, stealthy, and highly effective cyber force.

Initially, China's cyber operations, managed by the People's Liberation Army, were detectable and unsophisticated. However, President Xi Jinping's ascension to power in 2012 marked a turning point. Under his leadership, China began to transition its focus to the Ministry of State Security, which offered an increase in expertise, resources, and training for cyber operatives, therefore developing much more advanced hacking tools and techniques. This significant investment allowed Chinese hacking groups to become adept at bypassing detection, infiltrating systems through ingenuity, and hiding their tracks far more effectively than before.

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has shifted its focus from the People's Liberation Army to the Ministry of State Security, which has more resources and expertise to develop advanced hacking tools and techniques.

The shift toward the Ministry of State Security involved an infusion of funds aimed at enhancing intelligence assets, recruiting, and training more sophisticated and capable hackers. These professionals learned to infiltrate systems by stealing master passwords and operating them as legitimate users, thereby negating the need to write detectable code and malware. Additionally, China has leveraged their production of telecommunication equipment to potentially access and manipulate international infrastructures.

China's cyber espionage and hacking efforts are part of a broader strategic objective to gain a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. national security apparatus and critical infrastructure.

As Sanger explains, China's upgraded cyber capabilities serve their more extensive strategic goals. Gaining access to sensitive information and U.S. official communications offers China valuable intelligence that could provide them with strategic leverage in geopoliti ...

The U.S. government and telecommunications companies are tackling the challenge of protecting the nation's aging and vulnerable telecom infrastructure from sophisticated cyber threats like the "Salt Typhoon" hack.

The U.S. government and telecom companies face significant challenges in securing the aging and vulnerable telecommunications infrastructure against advanced cyber threats like the "Salt Typhoon" hack.

Emerging cybersecurity threats have exposed weaknesses in the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure.

The reliance on outdated equipment and the lack of modern security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, in the telecommunications systems have made them particularly susceptible to penetration by sophisticated hackers.

Sanger describes the U.S. phone systems as a mix of new digital equipment and outdated equipment that has been around for decades, rendering the systems vulnerable. The aging infrastructure was established in an era before the advent of hacking, lacking necessary modern protections. This existing telecom system is described as being "pasted together over the years" and relies heavily on antiquated technology.

Rebuilding the telecommunications infrastructure from scratch is not a viable option, as it would disrupt critical communication services that the U.S. economy and society depend on.

According to Sanger, a complete overhaul of the telecommunications system is not a feasible solution due to the public's everyday dependence on the current infrastructure.

The U.S. government has begun to advise Americans to use encrypted communication apps and services to protect the confidentiality of their conversations, a significant shift from previous positions that were more skeptical of encryption.

This advice reflects the government's acknowledgment of the limitations of its ability to secure the existing telecommunications infrastructure and the need for individuals to take proactive measures to protect their communications.

The U.S. government has surprisingly advised Americans ...