An American senior intelligence official has stated that the United States is conducting early investigations into potential Chinese hackers infiltrating American telecommunications companies.
According to Bloomberg, National Security Agency (NSA) Director Timothy Haugh stated that NSA, along with other government agencies and some companies, is “deeply investigating” these cases, but it is still too early to discuss specific companies.
American intelligence officials believe that a Chinese hacker group known as “Salt Typhoon,” identified by Microsoft, may have been lurking within American telecommunications companies for several months, possibly identifying pathways to court-authorized wiretapping access points. A source informed Bloomberg that such hacker attacks could constitute significant security vulnerabilities.
Haugh, speaking at the Cipher Threat Conference held on Hilton Head Island in Georgia, informed reporters that NSA has been warning since 2022 that telecommunications infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks by Chinese hackers.
Harry Coker, the head of the United States National Cyber Directorate, stated during a discussion at the conference, “Critical infrastructure continues to be under attack.”
Haugh not only serves as the NSA Director but also leads the United States Cyber Command. In June of this year, Haugh mentioned noticing an unusual Chinese threat that did not aim to steal military secrets or data but instead seemed to be lurking in the essential infrastructure supporting daily life, potentially waiting for an opportunity to launch cyber attacks to cause chaos.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the extensive network intrusion by “Salt Typhoon” is a cyberattack related to the Chinese government. Hackers accessed the networks of numerous American broadband providers.
Sources told The Journal that in a recent discovery of network intrusions, networks of companies like Verizon Communications, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies were compromised. Chinese hackers may have obtained information from systems used by the federal government for lawful surveillance.
Reportedly, spokespersons from Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen declined to comment on the activities of “Salt Typhoon.”
American network officials have been warning since last year that Chinese hackers are infiltrating critical infrastructure across the United States. Officials conclude that the intention is to disrupt America’s power and water supply and other vital services in the event of future conflicts with the U.S., hindering any military response.