According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Chinese hackers managed to breach the networks of US broadband providers and gain access to systems used by the federal government for court-authorized wiretapping.
Telecom companies such as Verizon Communications, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies were among those targeted in this recent cyber intrusion, as revealed by sources familiar with the matter.
The hackers potentially had access to critical network infrastructure for months, allowing them to intercept data related to court-authorized US wiretaps and other internet traffic, the Journal reported.
In response, China’s foreign ministry denied any knowledge of the attack described in the report, accusing the United States of fabricating false narratives to blame China for cyberattacks.
While Lumen Technologies chose not to comment, Verizon and AT&T have yet to respond to requests for statements regarding the breach.
The hacking incident, attributed to a Chinese group known as “Salt Typhoon,” was reportedly aimed at gathering intelligence.
Earlier this year, US authorities disrupted another Chinese hacking group referred to as “Flax Typhoon” and confronted Beijing about cyber espionage activities under the campaign “Volt Typhoon.”
In response, China’s foreign ministry claimed that evidence discovered by Beijing’s cybersecurity agencies suggested that “Volt Typhoon” was orchestrated by an international ransomware organization.
(This article has been generated from a syndicated feed and has not been altered by NDTV staff.)
