China-backed hackers breach US telecoms, steal call and wiretap data
Chinese state-backed hackers breached U.S. telecom carriers and stole call and wiretap-related information. Calls of senior politicians were among those targeted, and U.S. authorities recommended using encrypted messaging apps. In late December 2024, the number of affected carriers rose to nine, after authorities had earlier said the attacks were ongoing.
Key facts
- Affected organization
- Being confirmed
- Incident type
- Data breach
- Occurred / detected
- Not confirmed
- Scale of damage
- Nine U.S. telecom carriers breached; call and wiretap-related information stolen
- Cause / method
- Hacking of telecom carriers by Chinese-backed cyber-espionage group Salt Typhoon
- Location
- United States
If your data was exposed
Exposed dataUsage & purchase history
- Don’t tap links in texts, calls or emails that mention this incident and offer compensation, refunds or breach checks. Check directly on the organization’s official website or app.
Timeline
- The FBI confirmed that Chinese state-backed hackers had breached U.S. telecom carriers and stolen wiretap information.
- U.S. authorities recommended using encrypted messaging apps in response to the exposure of calls.
- A White House official said eight U.S. telecom carriers had been hacked.
- U.S. authorities said calls of very senior politicians had been hacked.
- The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security said the telecom hacking was still ongoing.
- The U.S. added a ninth company to the list of telecom carriers breached by Salt Typhoon.
15 related reports
- Two senior presidential campaign officials' iPhones maybe hacked by Chinese group
- FBI confirms China-backed hackers breached US telecom giants to steal wiretap data
- Emerging Details of Chinese Hack Leave U.S. Officials Increasingly Concerned (Published 2024)
- U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid cyberattack that exposed live phone calls
- Chinese hack of global telecom providers is ‘ongoing,’ officials warn
- White House official: 8 US telecom providers hacked by Chinese
- Many Americans’ cellphone data being hacked by China, official says
- Americans urged to use encrypted messaging after large, ongoing cyberattack
- US alleges China hacked calls of 'very senior' political figures, official says
- Why did China hack the world’s phone networks?
- Democrats and Republicans condemn espionage-driven Chinese hack
- U.S. begins to retaliate against China over hack of telecom networks
- Sweeping Chinese hack of U.S. telecoms firms is 'still going on,' homeland security secretary says
- Feds Warn SMS Authentication Is Unsafe After ‘Worst Hack in Our Nation’s History’
- US adds 9th telcom to list of companies hacked by Chinese-backed Salt Typhoon cyberespionage
The summary and key facts are written by AI from related reports and may contain errors. Check the original articles and the organization’s official statements for accurate details.