China-backed Salt Typhoon Sweeps US Cyber Siege
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed that a China-backed hacking group, ‘Salt Typhoon,’ has launched cyberattacks on at least 200 organizations in the United States. Previously, the group had infiltrated nine American telecommunications and internet service providers, according to a report by TechCrunch.
Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, told The Washington Post that Salt Typhoon had also attacked companies in 80 other countries, underscoring the global scope of the campaign.
The hackers reportedly targeted the call records of senior American politicians and officials in an attempt to determine “who is communicating with whom” and to identify individuals under U.S. surveillance. The situation grew so critical that, at one point, the FBI advised using encrypted messaging applications.
In response, the FBI, along with international agencies, has issued technical guidelines to help organizations strengthen the security of their networks.
